Counterattack System appeared when I'm already At The Mahayana Realm

Chapter 532: Chapter 531: Sharing Artifact Refining Techniques

By daylight, the small village comes to life, and Jiang Li and the others meet more of the villagers.

As the old woman said last night, the villagers are discussing whether or not to establish contact with the outside world.

Compared to the outside world, this small village appears significantly backward, unaware that the Jiuzhou has connected to several worlds, let alone the falling prices of low-level talismans.

Over the past decade, Jiuzhou has developed rapidly, having a significant effect on low-ranking cultivators and ordinary folk. Those who do not venture out for a few years risk being left behind by the times.

Jiang Li also discovers that the villagers’ cultivation method is flawed and somewhat different from orthodox cultivation—this presents a major problem.

“It should be due to them practicing cultivation on their own for an extended period, gradually deviating from the proper path.”

“And also the mountain moving the old woman mentioned last night…”

To move a mountain at least requires a God-transformation stage cultivator, yet the small village obviously has no place worth the effort of such a powerful cultivator.

Jiang Li ponders that Yu Yin must have chosen this location for the third trial because she’s aware of the village’s condition. Nevertheless, the rules have restricted her to the Foundation Establishment Stage, there must be a reason for it.

While pondering, Jiang Li wanders through the mountains, making his way outside to observe the situation of the outer world.

Outside the mountain is a shabby small town, even a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator is absent.

“Given the physical fitness level of a third stage qi cultivation, it would take over an hour to get from the small village to outside of the mountain. Round trip would require almost six hours. That’s too time-consuming.”

Jiang Li and the others approach the village head again.

“Village head, I heard that you want to establish contact with the outside world?”

“We are considering it. A few days ago, I gathered everyone in the village. There was a heated debate, full of different opinions. Some people are curious about the outside world and want to venture out while others think they can live self-sufficient lives here as they have been for generations and see no reason to move. The most absurd idea is to appeal to the Human Emperor’s sentiment with the spirit of Yugong moving the mountains, requesting him to use his Great Divine Power to move the mountains for us. It’s ridiculous.”

“There are people in the village who believe the Human Emperor is omnipotent and that he would definitely help them when he sees their difficulties.”

It’s inevitable for a village as closed-off like this one that after the three hundred years of the Human Emperor’s reign, some people would have heard about him while venturing outside. They fantasize about the manna from heaven without wanting to do any work.

“And what’s your opinion, village head?”

“I’m not sure. To be honest, I ventured to the outside world many years ago and saw the Artifact Refining Technique. It’s entirely different from what you demonstrated last night. The outside world has seen massive changes while we remain stagnant. In a few more decades, this village and the outside world will completely turn into separate worlds.”

“But the outside world is full of cheaters and fraudsters. I’m afraid that if we go outside, the entire village might end up being deceived and sent to work in the mines.”

“Could you update me on the current situation outside?”

Jiang Li nods: “Yu Yin is still the ruling Empress. Ten years ago, she became a Tribulation Crossing Cultivator and took full control over the political aspect. Since then, she has been trying to change the Tianyuan Emperor Dynasty.”

The village head finds it hard to believe: “Can the Tianyuan Emperor Dynasty still be changed? The more intense the struggle within the Dynasty, the stronger its national fortune becomes. That’s what led to its current state.”

Bai Hongtu adds: “Yu Yin said that the previous Tianyuan Emperor Dynasty had been filled with blatant and covert power struggles. She wants to reduce the frequency of covert fights and increase open competition to shift from vicious competition to benign competition. This way, the national fortune won’t be affected, and the people will live better lives than before.”

“She didn’t do so before because firstly, she wasn’t fully in control of the Tianyuan Emperor Dynasty, and secondly, she was afraid that if the national policy was changed, the national fortune would be affected, dragging her down with it.”

“But now that she’s at the Tribulation Crossing Stage, even if the national fortune changes, it won’t greatly affect her.”

By this point, Jiang Li has roughly understood Yu Yin’s intentions.

“If someone were to help you relocate to the outside of the mountains to establish terraced fields for farming, how much would you be willing to pay?”

Once they go outside, they’ll need to find a way to sustain their lives.

The village head looks troubled: “Our village is very poor. Even if we can gather all the precious beast skins and Spirit Grass gained from hunting in the mountains, we still can’t afford to hire a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.”

“That would be enough.”

Yu Yin’s intention is to allow the village to become self-sufficient rather than solely depending on others—which coincides with Jiang Li’s usual advocacy.

“But there are still many villagers who don’t want to relocate. We wouldn’t have enough time if we need to persuade them one by one.”

Jiang Li seeks out the Sect Master of the Luban Sect, Tang Ben, and several dozen other artifact refiners.

The other artifact refiners are also helping out around the village. In doing so, they have noticed that the key issue is relocating the village.

Once this issue is resolved, the other minor problems will be easily solved.

Jiang Li talks to them briefly. Understanding his intentions, they start to split up, each one trying to persuade the villagers.

During this period, they discuss how to refine simple spiritual treasures that can be used for moving house and clearing land for farming.

Jiang Li watches their discussion with envy.

The top artifact refiners of Jiuzhou are expressing their views. All bring valid points to the table, but none of them agrees with the others, resulting in a lack of consensus.

In the end, Tang Ben, who is universally recognized as the number one artifact refiner, takes the lead to integrate all opinions and refines farming tools that even ordinary people can use.

“This kind of spiritual treasure can be promoted on a large scale.” Tang Ben approves, finding these farming tools even more convenient and useful than the ones he designed himself.

“I don’t have many artifact refiners around me, and I’ve always been learning by myself without discussing with others. It feels really good to have such an open discussion.”

“How about this? Let’s set a fixed time for us all to gather and discuss issues related to artifact refining in the future. As for the location, let’s set it to be the Luban Sect.” The only artifact refiner who does not know how to refine artifacts suggests.

“I think this method is feasible.” The Sect Master of the Luban Sect is the first one to agree.

“Good idea.” Both Bai Hongtu and Ji Zhi agree.

The suggestion is met with waves of approvals.

Three days later, the entire village relocates to the outside of the mountains, settling in the small town.

Jiang Li has investigated beforehand and found that the area outside of the mountains is vast and sparsely populated, which is perfect for the village to settle down.

Jiang Li, Bai Hongtu, and Ji Zhi take care of the villagers’ settlement, making arrangements with the town chief. Since the population of the small town increases, the town chief naturally agrees.

The town chief originally tries to squeeze the villagers for some money, but Jiang Li subtly hints that the small village has caught the attention of Empress Yu Yin and shows the token which Yu Yin bestowed.

The token is forged, but the attention from Yu Yin is real.

With that, the town chief hesitates to make any rash moves.

Jiang Li also advises the villagers to be extra cautious and consider their actions thoroughly. If they are uncertain about something, they can discuss it with the village head.

During this period, the artifact refiners use the newly invented easy-to-use spiritual treasures to help clear land for the village.

All matters are settled just five days later.

The competition concludes.

“I didn’t expect that you would guess my intentions correctly.” Yu Yin appears, conversing with Jiang Li and the others.

It would have been possible for a single Foundation Establishment Stage artifact refiner to handle the relocation, but that would take too much time. Therefore, Yu Yin set a five-day time limit, requiring all the artifact refiners to work together.

As for the future Artifact Refiners Exchange being held at the Luban Sect, that comes as a pleasant surprise to Yu Yin.

“But since you all worked together to solve the problem in this third round, who should win?”

Jiang Li smiles awkwardly: “In this competition, especially the first two rounds, we messed around and definitely can’t be the winner. You are the judge, you decide.”

Both Bai Hongtu and Ji Zhi feel they went too far and declare that they should not be the first place.

“Then according to the size of contribution, let’s make Tang Ben the winner.”