The reforms were a complex affair, not something that could be accomplished in a single stroke.
Even with a general plan in place, many minor issues still needed to be addressed one by one.
Fortunately, it was now June,
not long after the last harvest of Spirit Grain,
and there was still a month before the next planting season. This provided ample time for all sorts of preparations.
In fact,
most people were skeptical of Shen Changchuan's reform plan.
This was perfectly normal.
Many people were creatures of habit, resistant to change. Regardless of whether a change was for the better, they instinctively loathed it, loathed leaving their comfort zones.
This was especially true for those who were used to cutting corners and slacking off; they wanted to change even less.
However, it was obvious
that things like democracy didn't exist in Dawan Village. As a Cultivator, Shen Changchuan held absolute authority.
For everyone in Dawan Village,
his orders were to be carried out, whether they understood them or not.
There was absolutely no room for dissent.
Besides,
Shen Changchuan's reforms weren't entirely without support.
At the very least, most members of Teams Eleven and Twelve, as well as his grandfather Han Qinhu, were supportive.
For the team members,
an increase in production meant the Martial Artists on those two teams would have a chance to receive a share of the Spirit Grain as a reward.
These Immortal Spiritual Objects were far more precious than mere gold and silver!
It represented a chance for them or their descendants to embark on the Path of Immortal Cultivation!
For mortals, its preciousness was self-evident.
As for his grandfather, Han Qinhu, he was fully on board after reading the reform plan.
His grandson wanted to build something for himself. If he succeeded, it would naturally be a wonderful thing.
And even if it failed,
the plan Shen Changchuan had proposed had a sufficient safety net to prevent any major losses.
Honestly, even he, who had traveled extensively and seen much of the mortal world, was inwardly stunned by the genius of Shen Changchuan's plan when he first saw it.
The reform plan was so solid,
and so ingenious!
He was especially impressed by the plan to keep ten plots of land operating as usual, while only using two plots for experimental improvements.
It left Han Qinhu, who prided himself on his worldly experience, at a loss for words.
'Consider failure before victory... He acts with neither arrogance nor impatience. My grandson, Shen Changchuan, is destined for great things!'
Such were Han Qinhu's thoughts.
He even took the initiative to shoulder the task of supervision, dedicating most of his time and energy to assisting with Shen Changchuan's reforms.
He was determined to see the reform plan implemented to the letter.
...
Time flew by amidst the bustling changes in Dawan Village. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
However, while busy with the restructuring of Dawan Village,
Shen Changchuan hadn't neglected his own Cultivation.
In fact, ever since escaping that vortex of the Shen Family Mansion in Tian Nan City,
he had never once slacked off in his Cultivation!
Because Shen Changchuan had a very clear understanding of this world.
In this feudal-era Immortal Cultivation World, the power a person possessed came from the strength they wielded.
The greater one's strength, the more weight one's words carried, and the greater one's power.
Whether it was reorganizing Dawan Village or improving Spirit Grain production for a larger harvest,
the ultimate goal of these actions
was to serve one purpose: to increase his own strength!
Shen Changchuan would not put the cart before the horse.
That was why,
even at his busiest, Shen Changchuan never forgot his Cultivation.
And his hard work paid off.
In just half a month,
his Cultivation Realm had broken through. He took a small step forward, reaching the Qi Introduction Third Layer Peak.
He was just one step away
from reaching the Qi Introduction Fourth Layer.
and enter the Middle Stage of the Qi Introduction Realm!
'I've reached the Qi Introduction Third Layer Peak. The Fourth Layer is already within my grasp!'
Sensing the even more abundant Magical Power within his body, Shen Changchuan felt a sense of satisfaction.
'This must be related to leaving that oppressive place, the Shen Family Mansion. Once free from that cage, the world is my oyster. It allowed my state of mind to improve.'
' "Freed from the captive's cage, I've returned to my natural state." The ancients certainly weren't wrong!'
'Of course, this is also closely related to my Cultivation resources.'
'With the meat of that Qi Introduction Fourth Layer Demon Pig, so rich in Essence Qi, I was able to compensate for the drawbacks of rapidly increasing my Magical Power and reach the Qi Introduction Third Layer Peak in such a short time!'
Near the Spiritual Spring, the very heart of Dawan Village,
Shen Changchuan sat cross-legged on a large boulder inside a private chamber, in high spirits.
The water of the Spiritual Spring next to him trickled softly, releasing wisps of Spiritual Qi into the air.
The private chamber was a square room. Its walls and ceiling were constructed from massive stone slabs, each weighing over a thousand pounds, completely enclosing the Spiritual Spring within.
If one were to walk outside, one would see many layers of loose earth stacked and compacted on top, almost like a small man-made hill. There was only one man-high passage for entry and exit, and inside, a heavy wooden door sealed the entrance tightly.
The purpose of this, naturally, was to trap as much of the Spiritual Qi evaporating from the Spiritual Spring as possible within a small space to aid in one's Cultivation.
As for the effect...
well, how to put it?
Shen Changchuan felt it was immeasurably better than simply meditating out in the wilderness.
He could feel his Magical Power circulating noticeably faster here.
Indeed, it was because of the meat from that Qi Introduction Fourth Layer Demon Pig,
combined with the excellent Spiritual Qi environment near the Spiritual Spring Entrance, that Shen Changchuan was able to advance to the Qi Introduction Third Layer Peak so quickly.
After all,
he had only advanced to the Qi Introduction Third Layer Late Stage two months prior.
To advance a minor level in a mere two months...
the speed of his Cultivation was truly remarkable.
'Indeed, leaving that great vortex of the Shen Family Mansion was absolutely the right decision for me!'
Recalling his two and a half years at the Shen Family Mansion, Shen Changchuan couldn't help but sigh once more.
It was a stark contrast to his life in the Shen Family Mansion, where he had to tiptoe around, afraid of offending people and daring not to strive in his Cultivation. His only benefit every ten days was a single bowl of Spirit Rice Porridge, and he was only entitled to a few bites of Demon Beast Meat during major holidays like the New Year.
Being stationed here in Dawan Village was immeasurably more freeing!
At least,
he was completely free!
And that wasn't the only gain he had made recently.
Shen Changchuan's gaze fixed on the empty space, and before his eyes, a screen of light appeared:
...
Name: Shen Changchuan
Realm: Qi Introduction Third Layer Peak
Cultivation Technique: Xiangshan Qi Absorption Technique
Magical Artifact:
Golden Needle x2 (Quasi-Low Tier Magical Artifact)
Magic:
Golden Needle Stabbing: 100% (Traits: Slight increase in hidden weapon accuracy, negligible Gold Element Magic Cultivation Experience)
Light Body Technique: 100% (Perfection Traits: Slight increase in speed, negligible Body Technique Cultivation Experience)
Wind Blade Technique: 52%
Fireball Technique: 43%
Vine Technique: 13%
Spiritual Eye Technique: 2%
...
Yes,
his Light Body Technique had also reached Perfection.
Thanks to the ample Essence Qi from the Wild Boar Demon Beast Meat, Shen Changchuan had managed to squeeze out enough time over the past half-month, despite his busy schedule.
He successfully cultivated his Light Body Technique to Perfection,
while also reaching the Entry Level with the Spiritual Eye Technique that Shen Shiyin had left him.
There wasn't much to say about the Spiritual Eye Technique. When activated, it just allowed him to see the faint auras of Spiritual Qi or traces of Demon Qi.
It was merely a supplementary Magic.
The important thing was the Light Body Technique, which had now reached Perfection.
Just like Golden Needle Stabbing, when the Light Body Technique's cultivation progress reached 100%, two lines of traits appeared after it.
Shen Changchuan didn't quite understand the effect of the latter, "negligible Body Technique Cultivation Experience."
However, he had definitely felt the effect of the first phrase: "Slight increase in speed."
When he used the Light Body Technique that had reached 100% progress,
whereas before he could leap forty to fifty feet, he could now soar eighty to ninety feet in a single bound.
After using the Light Body Technique, the enhanced agility effect was at least one-third stronger than before!
This also meant the speed of his attacks had improved as well!
This undoubtedly further enhanced Shen Changchuan's overall strength!
The current Shen Changchuan,
even felt that if that giant Demon Pig at the Qi Introduction Fourth Layer Peak were to appear before him again,
he was confident he could take it down with hit-and-run tactics!