Blue Silver Grass Strategy (Douluo Dalu Fiction)

Today, with no market day, the town wasn't bustling. A few passersby walked their own paths, while Ling Yi followed Ling Xiaoshan through the sparse crowd, simply two of the most ordinary figures among the multitude.

At the blacksmith shop in the west of town, Ling Xiaoshan took out a handful of bronze soul coins and two silver soul coins, handing them to a burly man with graying whiskers. In return, he received a bulging coarse cloth bag and peeked inside.

Beside the forging platform, a robust young man, sweating profusely, was hammering away at a glowing iron ingot. Each blow resounded rhythmically, producing either a pleasing rhythm or an occasional discordant sound.

Ling Yi stood obediently at the doorway, her eyes filled with curiosity as she quietly observed the scene inside the shop.

"Let's go~"

Ling Xiaoshan's clear voice rang in Ling Yi's ears, accompanied by the warmth of a large hand patting her head, drawing her attention back.

She looked up, meeting Ling Xiaoshan's smiling gaze, and nodded, "Mm!"

"Master Jiang, Baiwa, we're off now!"

"Take care~"

"Uncle, Ling Yi, take care on your way—"

Amid the farewells of the blacksmith and the burly youth, the pair's silhouettes waved in response, heading out of the town into the blazing sun ahead.

"Clang! Clang!—!"

As they walked, the contents of the woven basket slung over Ling Xiaoshan's back clattered with a crisp metallic sound.

Within the basket, six new iron hoe blades occasionally chimed as they knocked against each other.

Once fitted onto six sturdy, straight wooden poles, they would become six excellent hoes.

Nowadays, both the Ling and Zhang families relied on these tools.

The Zhang family, with three sons whose Martial Souls were "hoes," naturally found the "Three Farmer Forms" technique—Hoe Strike Style—very handy.

However, Ling Changqing, Ling Xiaoshan, and Ling Yi themselves also needed hoes to perform the technique.

In addition, Grandma, Granny, Mom, and Aunt sometimes helped with the fieldwork, so there couldn’t be a shortage of hoes.

"Xiao Yi~"

"Hmm?"

"Now that you have this 'Basic Meditation Manual,' you should focus on cultivating it properly.

You don't need to work in the fields anymore..." Ling Xiaoshan looked down at Ling Yi, his expression slightly serious as he spoke.

At this, Ling Yi patted his chest, feeling the thin booklet inside, and turned to his father with an earnest look, "Dad, don’t worry, I will cultivate diligently."

"It’s just~"

Ling Xiaoshan was just about to nod when Ling Yi’s voice chimed in again, "Dad, when I got the 'Basic Meditation Manual,' Uncle Yan Bin told me that I shouldn't train for too long each time.

Depending on everyone's innate talent, the duration of training each day can vary.

If it exceeds this time, not only does efficiency drop drastically, but it could even unintentionally harm the body..."

“Alright~” Ling Xiaoshan's mouth opened slightly as he listened to Ling Yi, finding himself at a loss for words. In the realm of martial spirit cultivation, he was a complete novice, without a hint of authority to speak.

Pursing his lips, Ling Xiaoshan seemed to remember something and followed up with a question, "By the way, Xiao Yi, can you manage to read that Meditation Method?"

"Although we've taught you some words over the years, we're not sure if it's enough. In my opinion, we might as well sell the wild chickens and rabbits we raise at home. This way, you could afford the tuition to study in 'Mu Zhi City'..."

Ling Xiaoshan did not mention the quota for work-study students because both he and Ling Yi knew they would not qualify this year.

What is a work-study student?

How does one earn a quota for that?

It's simple: A city is supported by the surrounding villages and towns, which supply almost all the daily consumables like grain, fruits, vegetables, and meat.

A significant portion of these supplies is surrendered without payment by village and town residents—the equivalent of a tax provided to the rulers.

Besides free schooling, work-study students are offered part-time job opportunities, earning a little extra for meals during their spare time.

This way, when these civilian spirit masters grow, whether they integrate into the lords' established circles or return home to become a new local lord themselves, there are numerous benefits with no adverse effects.

And if, by chance, one of them turns out to be a prodigy, the investment would truly yield great returns!

"Let's not get sidetracked and return to the matter at hand."

"The allocation of work-study student slots is done by the city where the Primary Spirit Master Academy is located, distributing downward based on the contributions of the surrounding towns and villages, as well as the prosperity of the city itself."

"Unfortunately, the [Shuimu Principality] is one of the smallest states on the Douluo Continent. Its total land area is less than that of the smallest province in the [Heaven Dou Empire]."

"In fact, it was carved out of one of Heaven Dou Empire's smallest provinces."

"The entire country has only three cities. The capital, 'Muzhi City,' when placed in the context of the Douluo Continent, can only be considered an average-sized city."

"Due to the state of the nation, people with spirit master potential are mostly concentrated within these three cities."

"In the rural areas, a spirit master capable of reaching the level of a Spirit Elder is a rare occurrence that might arise once in several decades."

"Thus, the allocation of slots for the initial Spirit Master Academy in Muzhi City mostly extends to the town level and rarely reaches the village level."

"Simply put, there are indeed work-study slots available, yet North Kou River Town has only two or three."

"Coincidentally, this year the town has three children of spirit master descent who have just turned six and awakened their innate spirit power."

"As children of spirit masters, their chances of awakening innate spirit power are inherently higher..."

On a sunny country dirt road, two figures—one big and one small—gradually receded into the distance. The surroundings were eerily silent, with a warm breeze blowing over the listless "Blue Silver Grass" by the roadside, shattering them into fragments of golden light.

As he walked, Ling Yi calculated the 'wealth' he currently possessed.

Regarding the matter of the work-study student slot, Ling Yi thought about it briefly before dismissing it from his mind.

Although enrolling earlier could lead to learning more about martial souls and soul beasts sooner, the students at the junior Soul Master academy were still primarily practicing the 'Basic Meditation Method.'

Ling Yi had already confirmed this with Yan Bin.

Therefore, for Ling Yi, whose innate spirit power was only half a rank, it makes no difference whether he enrolled a year earlier or later.

Anyway, at the academy, the focus would still be on soul power cultivation, supplemented by learning about martial souls and soul beasts.

In that case, it would be better to stay home and cultivate his soul power. Once the time was ripe, he could attend the junior Soul Master academy under the guise of a work-study student to absorb that knowledge.

Given Ling Yi's current level of mental strength, he could develop the learning and memory skills, similar to the character Yu Xiaogang in the original work, who memorized all the archives of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Spirit Hall. Rapidly mastering the teaching content of a junior Soul Master academy shouldn’t be a problem.

As he faced the lush greenery on either side of the country road, there was a glimmer of light in Ling Yi's eyes.

Starting tomorrow, he aspired to become a diligent Soul Warrior, progressing hand in hand in physique, spirit, and soul power.

"Starting tomorrow, along with the relatives of the Ling and Zhang families, we'll farm, raise animals, hunt, and together achieve a modest prosperity!"

(End of Chapter)