In Flower Valley, clusters of rice stalks are reaching maturity, with a fragrance of rice permeating the air.

Sun Wukong glanced at the rice and knew in his heart that this batch had a higher yield than the others, making it a finished product.

Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad carefully observed the long and slender rice and, after a long observation, still had no clue.

"This is the rice from the Mortal World, very ordinary."

Lord Lao Zi, making sure he didn't miss anything, asked, "What is so special about it that it can create such merit?"

Sun Wukong replied, "It has a higher yield than regular rice."

Lord Lao Zi was startled; he had no idea what the regular yield of rice was.

"How much higher?"

He asked again.

Sun Wukong estimated, "About 20%."

He didn't know the exact figures, but having some understanding of rice, and after accounting for the removal of the spiritual energy of Huaguo Mountain, the yield had increased by about 20% or so.

"There's a 20% increase!?"

Lord Lao Zi understood everything now.

A 20% increase in a single stalk of rice wasn't much, but rice was never grown as just one stalk.

Once a mu of rice is harvested, rice grains pile up like a small mountain, and a 20% increase in yield is actually quite significant.

Lord Lao Zi calculated further; if the rice yield across the Four Great Continents could increase by 20%, the amount would be staggering, enough to feed the population of several nations.

"Great creation, great creation!"

Lord Lao Zi praised twice in a row, feeling overwhelmingly surprised by the discovery at Huaguo Mountain.

Just these rice crops alone, if proliferated, could create enough merit to shield the Flower Valley's spirits from demonic disturbances forever, and even allow those with great potential to achieve ascension.

Lord Lao Zi also noticed that Sun Wukong himself was bathed in golden light. He said the rice was cultivated by floral spirits, but possibly half of its efficacy originated from him.

"In the future, his merit may rival mine."

Lord Lao Zi thought to himself, but he did not say it aloud.

He asked Sun Wukong about the cultivation method of the rice.

This rice from the Mortal World had no trace of Immortal Law, and Lord Lao Zi wondered how Sun Wukong had created it.

Sun Wukong explained the process.

The floral spirits spent twenty years experimenting countless times to achieve today's results, which didn't surprise Sun Wukong.

However, Lord Lao Zi found it incredible—twenty years, in the eyes of an immortal, was but twenty days.

"Could it be that we have indeed been too lax?"

Lord Lao Zi could not help thinking.

He then inquired, "Can the rice seeds be preserved?"

"Yes,"

Sun Wukong nodded, "But after retaining seeds, it can't maintain the yield, thus the seeds must be purchased from Huaguo Mountain."

"That's difficult,"

Lord Lao Zi shook his head.

Compared to the increase in yield, the cost of seeds from Huaguo Mountain wasn't high, and nearby nations would surely be willing to buy.

However, for more distant nations, considering the transportation cost, it would be difficult to popularize.

Lord Lao Zi asked Sun Wukong for a solution.

"What's so difficult about transporting seeds?"

Sun Wukong couldn't help laughing. Huaguo Mountain had spiritual objects trade with human nations of the Four Great Continents, and since seeds were very small and cheap, it wasn't difficult for merchants to transport more.

The situation wouldn't be as bad as Lord Lao Zi thought, but of course, full proliferation was impossible.

"Does Lord have any interest in the rice?"

Sun Wukong thought, saying, "If you are interested, I could pass on the technology and parent rice to you. Lord's followers are everywhere, teach them the hybridization techniques, and this way there's no transportation issue."

Lord Lao Zi was startled.

He looked at Sun Wukong: "Are you willing to give it to me?"

"Of course."

Sun Wukong nodded.

He wanted to enhance the world's productivity, and wasn't concerned about minor benefits.

With the power of immortals, technology promotion and development could be accelerated, and there was no need to worry about the Jade Emperor's suspicions.

Lord Lao Zi was very moved.

Rice was not just any crop, and the merit involved was tremendously significant.

If it were done through his hands, Lord Lao Zi might also gain some merit and acclaim.

He never expected Sun Wukong to be so generous, making even the immortals in the Heavenly Palace seem petty in comparison.

Lord Lao Zi grew fond of Sun Wukong: "Monkey King really lives up to the name of Wise Monkey."

"Just call me Wukong."

Sun Wukong said.

Lord Lao Zi was greatly pleased.

The more he saw of Sun Wukong, the more he liked him, feeling he was truly rare in his dedication to goodness.

"This rice is of great benefit to the Four Great Continents, I dare not disrespect it, it would be shameful not to accept."

Lord Lao Zi hesitated, but finally, accepted it.

From his bosom, he took out a gourd filled with Golden Cores and handed it to Sun Wukong, saying, "I didn't bring much treasure with me this time descending to the Mortal World, so I'll give these Immortal Pills to you."

Sun Wukong, unexpectedly, accepted the Immortal Pills.

He hadn't caused any uproars in the Heavenly Palace, and originally thought he wouldn't get any Flat Peaches or Immortal Pills, but they unexpectedly came his way.

In these twenty years, Immortal Zhen Yuan had given him ten Flat Peaches, and he had also eaten two Ginsengfruits, although not many, but certainly not few.

Lord Lao Zi was even more generous; having known him for such a short time, and yet he had given him a gourd full of Immortal Pills.

"Great King! Great King!" The floral spirits, smelling the fragrance of the Immortal Pills, all flew over, gazing eagerly at the gourd: "What are these Immortal Pills, why do they smell so good?"

Sun Wukong also smelled the fragrance of the Immortal Pills, an unknown floral scent that was fatally attractive to the floral spirits.

Looking at these little demons, the true contributors to the high-yielding rice, how could he not reward them?

"Indeed."

Deftly, Sun Wukong opened the gourd and took out the Immortal Pills, distributing them one by one to the floral spirits.

Each floral spirit had a limited appetite; even a small piece of Immortal Pill was enough. But when aggregated throughout the whole Flower Valley, the entirety of the gourd's Immortal Pills was swiftly consumed.

After eating the Immortal Pills, the floral spirits' mana greatly increased, and some even successfully transformed in front of Sun Wukong into young men and women, expressing their thanks.

Sun Wukong was delighted and quickly thanked Lord Lao Zi.

"You don't need to thank me."

Lord Lao Zi shook his head, deeply moved by Sun Wukong's actions.

He had never witnessed such a scene and glanced again at the playful floral spirits in the Flower Valley before rising into the clouds and returning to the Heavenly Palace.

Sun Wukong was baffled, not understanding why he had suddenly left.

Days later, Lord Lao Zi returned to Huaguo Mountain, now carrying several gourds.

"These are Immortal Pills."

Lord Lao Zi stuffed the gourds into Sun Wukong's hands, saying, "Don't give them to those demons again. They have limited potential and can't consume so much; these are all yours now."

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