543 Returning

The Da Qian World. Nine Extremes Mountain.

The Green Wood Sky Net Array sparkled. It was powerful yet calm at the same time.

Within the array, the Nine Extremes Mountain was covered in an abundance of greenery. Stalks of Yellow Grain Rice in the spiritual fields enjoyed rapid growth and brightened up the landscape.

As Liu Mengmei walked about in the fields, she suddenly felt a sense of tranquillity.

A human being's most basic needs were survival and reproduction. Survival would be ensured as long as one had shelter and food. In times of chaos, these were precious commodities.

People had begun to settle down comfortably on the Nine Extremes Mountain and there was no longer any talk of leaving.

"After this season's crop of Yellow Grain Rice is ready for the harvest, we would be more than self-sufficient. We would even be able to trade!"

Liu Mengmei did her calculations. Dream masters were more adept in agricultural techniques than one would expect them to be. They had to be, for they had to make preparations for their prosperous land and Hollow in the future.

From just a glance, she was able to estimate the yield of the fields. It was more than enough to fulfil her objectives.

"I have to say, the Yellow Grain Rice is quite an unorthodox crop…"

Meng Tian paced her from behind.

"The yield and growth rates of this plant are extremely high...Of course, nothing beats the Nine Extremes Rice cultivated by the mountain leader! 10 stones per mu is quite a shocking statistic!"

"I've heard that the mountain leader intends to spread the seeds of the Nine Extremes Rice plant all over the world. This would greatly benefit mankind!"

Meng Tian inquired expectantly.

"The Yellow Grain Rice may be great, but it is still the food of the dream masters. Can the average man afford to eat it?"

Liu Mengmei picked a flower and held it to her nose wistfully. As Fang Yuan's trusted subordinate, she knew things.

She knew that he had massive ambitions and had set his sights on the big picture. The little benefits brought about by a small trade like that was of no concern to him.

However, it would not hurt if he made use of the process of propagating the seeds to strengthen himself.

"Are you saying...that the Nine Extremes Mountain has been seeing an influx of refugees lately, as well as cultivators?"

Liu Mengmei raised a brow and suddenly had an idea.

"Having set up our temple in the Nine Extremes Mountain, we have to maintain the security of the region. The areas protected by the Green Wood Sky Net Array will keep them out, but there are other pieces of land that are available for settlement. We will only provide them with food and seeds if they recognise our authority and pledge allegiance to us…"

A large organisation would definitely have several subsidiaries. No matter how vulnerable and insignificant the mortals in the human establishments may seem, they provided the organisation with a constant supply of people and should not be discounted.

"Also...the Realm Alliance, Baize Mountain and other factions have traded with us before, but can't seem to stop putting on airs?"

Liu Mengmei laughed coldly.

"From today onwards, we will categorise our trade partners into tiers. A trade limit will be placed on reserved items and core products will only be made available to our most esteemed customers…"

All these were things that Fang Yuan had mentioned before, and Liu Mengmei merely reiterated them.

"The Dream Masters Alliance of the present day is virtually powerless and yet they continue to act tough! We need to assert our dominance over them!"

"Your wish is my command!"

Meng Tian nodded and bowed respectfully as he retreated.

"Sigh…"

Liu Mengmei was downhearted as she gazed at the Nine Extremes Mountain.

"The mountain leader...when will he finally come out of his closed-door cultivation?"

Suddenly, a noise came from the temple gates.

"Has Extreme Darkness returned?"

Liu Mengmei went over to receive the arrivals and saw that a group of people were indeed gathered at the temple gates.

"Sister Extreme Darkness...how did the deal go?"

She ran her fingers through her hair and approached them with a smile.

"It was alright…"

Extreme Darkness's face stiffened. On the Nine Mountains, Liu Mengmei was in charge of the agricultural affairs while she was in charge of security. Extreme Darkness also had the added responsibility of settling external dealings. However, Liu Mengmei seemed to have something against her and always tried to antagonise her.

"With the armed escort provided by the mountain leader as well as the protection of Ado's Demon Army, those small fries wouldn't dare to try anything funny."

Extreme Darkness rolled her eyes.

"What about you, Sister...still pining for the day the mountain leader comes out from his closed-door cultivation? Hehe…"

She had wanted to say more, but two rays of green light suddenly flew into their arms.

"The mountain leader has returned?"

Liu Mengmei was overcome with happiness and rushed towards the main hall without a second look at Extreme Darkness.

"Hmph! What a vixen!"

Extreme Darkness looked on as Liu Mengmei ran off into the distance and laughed. Then she paused for a moment before laughing even harder.

...

"What a dream!"

In the bathroom, Fang Yuan let the warm water cascade down his body as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. He was stunned.

"After passing through so many worlds, I sometimes wonder who I really am."

Fang Yuan rubbed his face.

The man in the mirror still retained his youthful looks and did not look a day past 30, yet he was already one of the most powerful men in Da Qian.

Still, the present Da Qian was a shadow of its former self.

Fang Yuan glanced at his belly.

A black mark with a purple spot in its middle had appeared there.

"All that I have gained in the Purple Eye Realm is here...why am I suddenly getting a sense of deja vu?"

He rubbed his tummy with a troubled expression on his face.

Saving a world was a phenomenal achievement. The energy from the core of worlds could potentially help him to break through to the 7th tier of the illusionary divine stage immediately!

But the Purple Eye Realm was a relatively small world. If it had been a larger and more ancient world, Fang Yuan would have joined the ranks of the sages by now.

Fang Yuan did not care for any more energy from the worlds though.

What mattered most to him was the Body Seal ability as well as the trickle of Original Energy that he had managed to seal up!

Thus, Fang Yuan had made use of the World's Will's desire to expel the Strange energies as well as utilise the gains he had made so as to send himself back to this world. He had even brought along with him the new Body Seal ability!

If there had not been a world-destroying calamity, how would the World's Will allow an outsider from another world to take on its heavenly mandate?

In other words, Fang Yuan had baited the World's Will with an expected return and forced it to hand over the mandate!

Although the real son of heaven had died before he was even born, Fang Yuan knew that the key laid on the Body Seal ability. As long as one possessed that ability, he would receive the mandate of Heaven!

"Having received this ability, everything else pales in comparison!"

Fang Yuan laughed and looked at his stats board:

Name: Fang Yuan (Tantai Mieming)

Essence: 100

Spirit: 100

Magic: 50 (100)

Profession: ???

Cultivation: True Divine, Area Being, Illusionary Divine Stage (1st Tier)

Technique: Pangu Eagle Body, [8 Gates Sword Array (???)], [Elemental Spiritual Energy Cultivation Spell (Grade 5 (Completed))]

Skill: [Medicine (Level 3)], [Botany (Level 6)(Peak)], [Fiery Golden Eyes (Level 1)], [Body Seal (Ultimate form)]"

The Body Seal ability from the Purple Eye Realm was supposed to be formidable even in Da Qian.

However, even in its ultimate form, it merely shone with a dim light. It was obviously out of use.

"This is the price to pay for sealing up that bit of Original Energy!"

Fan Yuan put on his clothes and let out a sigh.

In truth, he did feel burdened by the small amount of Original Energy that he had sealed up in his body.

"I'm already on the right path...this bit of Original Energy is definitely of the same level as the entity that had stripped the path of dream masters in Da Qian. I will continue to move in this direction!"

Fang Yuan had a hungry look in his eyes.

In time to come, he would fully absorb the Original Energy and come into contact with that incredible realm.

"Although there were some hiccups along the way, I've already milked the experience for all that it was worth!"

After he had come out from his closed-door cultivation, he summoned a maid and found out that only a short time had passed. He then ordered his breakfast to be served and went to inspect his staff.

In the main hall.

Fang Yuan put down the jade bowl in his hand and peered at the 4 people who had entered.

"Hmm...what's the situation outside like?"

"Please rest assured, my lord. All is well. But we've been seeing an influx of refugees lately and some of them are interested in joining our organisation…"

Liu Mengmei was the first to report.

"Also...Baize Mountain was very satisfied with the last trade we made with them. They are keen in dealing with us further and are especially interested in the spiritual rice...the Realm Alliance has been lying low but our sources report that representatives of the Evil Divine Sect have approached them for a deal of some kind. I smell a plot…"

Extreme Darkness had memories of her previous life and was hence uncommonly wise.

"A plot...what do you think they could be plotting?"

Fang Yuan's interest was piqued.

"Probably to work more closely together and establish an alliance!"

Extreme Darkness giggled softly.

"Hmph...we dream masters are reviled figures these days. Why would they hasten their deaths by doing something so high profile?"

Liu Mengmei was unhappy with Extreme Darkness and tried to refute her claim.

"The dream masters can finally catch a breather because of the disaster brought about by the demon spirits… after all, dream elemental force is very effective against demon spirits. If we don't take this opportunity to regain our strength, we will be wiped out when the other forces in Da Qian come around…"

Extreme Darkness stared incredulously at Liu Mengmei.

"Sister, do you not understand something so simple?"

"Alright!"

Fan Yuan waved a hand. With him in charge, no one dared to say another word.

"The two of you have contributed much to our organisation…"

Fang Yuan's voice was calm but his heart was far away, beyond the Green Wood Sky Net Array. He could feel the rolling fields of Green Elemental Grass and the happy vibes transmitted from around the world.

With all these, he could regain his level of cultivation even without dream-traversing and strengthen the foundations of Nine Extremes Mountain.

"You are too kind, my lord!"

The two ladies acknowledged Fang Yuan's praise humbly but their eyes sparkled with glee.

"Don't worry, you two will be rewarded...let's not talk about internal matters first. Extreme Darkness, you are in charge of our external dealings. What is the situation in the current world?"

After the chaos at the start, by now, the surviving powers of the land would have resurfaced.