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Nuoding City
The city walls remained as ancient as ever, but the inside of Nuoding City had become much more bustling. Various new household-type soul devices were gradually appearing in this small city.
However, compared to big cities like Spirit City and Tian Dou City, the soul devices here were of the types that had been phased out. Yet, for the residents of this small city, they were quite advanced.
Additionally, a soul device assembly factory had been established near Nuoding City. Various parts were shipped from other cities to be assembled here, providing many jobs for the common people.
Many young and strong individuals from nearby villages came to work in Nuoding City… The city itself was expanding continuously in the process. Perhaps one day, it would engulf most of the nearby small villages.
Tang San arrived at the Spirit Hall. Compared to the past, the iconic cathedral-like building hadn't changed much in appearance, except it had expanded considerably.
The guard at the entrance rubbed his eyes, seemingly recognizing him, and said incredulously, "You are… the Holy Son!?"
"Shh~ Uncle Li, is it your shift today?" Tang San smiled. "Don't be too loud. I don't want to cause a commotion. I just came to see Brother Tao."
"It really is you!" The guard got excited, his hand trembling as he held his spear. He was both thrilled and at a loss, calming down only after a while. He lowered his voice and said, "Master Su is not inside. Miss Sisi is in charge."
"Not here? Where did he go?" Tang San asked, puzzled.
"Half a year ago, a large soul device assembly factory was set up outside Nuoding City. Many young people from the city and nearby villages came to work. Especially from the villages, though they earned more money, the farmlands were left unattended… I heard there's a Grain Temple in Nuoding City researching high-yield grain seeds?" The guard inquired.
"That's correct," Tang San nodded. "After all, food is fundamental. But Uncle Li, you know that cultivating high-yield grain seeds takes time and needs to be tested in experimental fields."
"Indeed," the guard nodded in understanding. He knew that farming wasn't easy, let alone cultivating high-yield seeds. He continued, "With the young men working in the factory, although they earn more, our locally produced grain has decreased. We need to import food… Because of this, Master Su believes that Nuoding City can be self-sufficient in grain production. Besides the Nuoding Forest, the nearby woods and grasslands, devoid of soul beasts, can be developed into farmland."
"And those small villages can become stations among the farmlands, responsible for overseeing, managing, and guarding the fields…"
"He's currently in Holy Soul Village. This plan started half a year ago, and he applied for funding. I heard the master of Tian Dou City agreed and allocated funds, planning to use Nuoding City and its nearby villages as a pilot area for a new model. If the farmland is successfully established, they'll observe for three to five years. If it works, this model will be implemented in other small towns with similar conditions."
"Seems like Brother Tao is quite ambitious," Tang San sighed. After chatting with Uncle Li for a while, he entered the hall and went straight to the office area previously used by Ma Xi Nuo and Su Yuntao.
"Mom, I want candied hawthorn!"
Before he could knock, Tang San heard a childish voice inside, pleading.
"Be good, let mommy finish her work first, then we'll go buy some," Sisi replied perfunctorily, then tied the chubby child to a chair with a ribbon. "Now play the game 'One, Two, Three, Freeze'."
"One, two, three…"
"Knock, knock, knock!"
The knocking sound was heard.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Tang San walked in. Under Sisi's slightly stunned gaze, he approached the two-year-old child tied to the chair and smiled, "Sisi, is this how you teach your child?"
"Ha~ It's just that he's too mischievous," Sisi responded, quickly getting up to make tea for Tang San and Gu Yuena. As for Shen Hou, You Ji, and Hai Zhu, Tang San was visiting friends, so there was no need to bring them inside. Gu Yuena, however, had followed him in.
"Sisi, you're as young and beautiful as ever," Tang San complimented.
"Haha, not really," Sisi responded with a bright smile, clearly pleased with the praise. She then looked at Gu Yuena, asking, "Is this your daughter?"
"Ahem!" Tang San almost choked on his tea. "Please, I'm only sixteen. How could I have an eight-year-old daughter? When I was eight, I was still at Nudoing Academy."
"Her name is Gu Yuena. She's very talented in the path of a soul master."
Gu Yuena introduced herself, "Hello, my name is Gu Yuena. I'm eight years old, and my talent is just a bit better than Tang San's. I've reached the level of Soul Ancestor."
An eight-year-old Soul Ancestor!
Sisi was astonished. She herself was only at the thirty-fifth level.
"I heard from Uncle Li outside that Brother Tao went to Holy Soul Village?" Tang San asked.
"Yes, he's been diligently studying the knowledge required by the Spirit Hall these past few years, aiming to achieve something great," Sisi said. She believed that having a peaceful family was enough, but since her husband had ambitions, she supported him.
"Brother Tao is truly remarkable," Tang San smiled and took out a wooden box. "This is a Foundation Pill made by Xiao Wu. It's beneficial for children who haven't awakened their spirit. Take one pill a month, there are twelve in total."
"Oh my, you even brought a gift," Sisi said, accepting the wooden box with joy. She then told her child, "Say hello to your brother."
The tied-up child hesitated but, under Sisi's stern gaze, softly called out, "Brother."
"Good boy," Tang San said, not paying much attention. After all, children around three to five years old were the most mischievous, and with Sisi tying the child up, it was no wonder he wasn't happy.
After chatting for a bit, Tang San left the office with Gu Yuena, calling Shen Hou, You Ji, and Hai Zhu, who were waiting outside, to head towards Holy Soul Village.
Tang San noticed that the road between Holy Soul Village and Nuoding City had significantly widened. Originally, it could only accommodate two ox carts side by side, but now it was over fifteen meters wide.
The closer they got to the village, the more farmland appeared. Lush green rice plants swayed in the wind, creating a refreshing sight.
Upon arriving at the entrance of Holy Soul Village, Tang San observed that the houses had been renovated and increased in number, giving the village the appearance of a small town.
"So this is your hometown? It looks pretty nice," Gu Yuena remarked as she surveyed the surroundings. She noted that the houses here were shorter than those in Nuoding City, but the vast fields of rice around the village presented a beauty different from the Star Dou Forest.
If the plants in the Star Dou Forest grew wildly and naturally, the farmlands outside Holy Soul Village were meticulously arranged, creating a harmonious and refreshing atmosphere.
[Humans, a creative and versatile race!]
(End of Chapter)