Lin Qinghen’s perspective on cities is quite different from those who were born and raised in the Spirit World.

When he looks at Lei City, the first thing he notices is its overall economic structure, attempting to see the essence of the rat infestation from a broader view.

Even though the Spirit World operates on might and is often in a semi-war state, it’s not entirely chaotic; it has relatively stable and interconnected social structures that follow a basic logic.

During the rat infestation, Lin Qinghen observed closely and noticed that the basic living conditions of most ordinary people in Lei City were not independent.

Clearly, the city’s inhabitants operated in small family units. It wasn’t just the alchemists banding together; this kind of collective cooperation was seen in every aspect of life.

There was a family system, mercenary teams, or even larger mercenary groups, and at the highest level, the great family clans. Very few operated on their own.

To mitigate risks and seek growth, people on the lower levels tended to form alliances based on their original families. This structure wasn’t unique to Lei City; many cities operated similarly.

Whether a Spirit Master or a martial artist, most people had only average talent. Even those with slightly better talent, who were said to be roaming the land, sword in hand, living by their wits, didn’t have much to do with ordinary people. Not everyone pursued cultivation as their main profession.

People valued their lives, and while the Spirit World was blessed with abundant resources, Lei City was relatively poor. Still, people generally had enough to eat and clothes to wear, so there was no need to risk their lives every day.

The rat infestation made this very clear.

The front-line strike teams earned the highest rewards, but due to the high danger, only about five hundred participated. Meanwhile, the thousands of people following in the back, scavenging the leftovers, earned less but didn’t face any life-threatening risks.

This logic also applied within individual families. With limited cultivation resources, a family would select a few promising members to nurture, focusing its resources on them.

The others, who were not the primary focus, rarely ventured out for adventures, instead working in low-risk professions to support those prioritized for cultivation.

Those chosen members not only enjoyed the benefits but also bore the responsibilities and risks associated with their cultivation, contributing to the family and protecting the others, while also nurturing the next generation to ensure the family’s future growth.

This division of labor was logical and stable, each person playing their role, bound by familial ties. It was a system where each did their part, sharing risks and rewards, and achieving an optimal distribution of limited resources within the small collective.

In other words, not everyone was fighting day and night; many laborers were idle, moving between low-risk jobs. Working in the Plantation posed no danger and paid reasonably well, but farm laborers had low social status, often working as slaves or long-term workers under a backward system.

Lin Qinghen chose to settle in Lei City for several reasons. First, it was relatively stable. As long as the Yin family held firm, the city wouldn’t descend into chaos, providing a relatively safe environment for development.

Second, most of the inhabitants were local, with low mobility and high stability.

Third, because of its geographic location, Lei City had long maintained a relatively independent state, seldom influenced by external forces, and its grassroots ecosystem was typical.

If he were to implement his plans, restructuring from top to bottom, the resistance would be minimal, and success was possible.

Of course, Lin Qinghen’s idea of a family-based contract system would need some adaptive changes. Even if the Yin family was compliant, introducing a concept like public ownership of land wasn’t realistic at this time. But taking the best aspects of this system, a similar approach could be promoted.

Lin Qinghen had techniques he could share—he could make the soil composition ratios public. But he couldn’t be the only one working on the soil; he had too many other tasks, and if he tried to do it alone, he’d exhaust himself and make little progress.

The soil ratio wasn’t difficult, but the potion ratio was; part of it he kept to himself, while part would be shared, so that the entire Lei City could be activated.

“The plantations in Lei City do need to be developed, but they should be given to individuals, not medicine shops,” Lin Qinghen said. “I won’t charge them direct rent for the land or the potion I provide. What I want in return is a set amount of produce from each acre at harvest time, meeting quality standards. In other words, if the contractor puts in enough effort, whatever exceeds the requirement is theirs to keep.”

Currently, Lin Qinghen set the ratio at about sixty percent of normal output. With adequate effort, even without bee crystal butterflies, the output per acre could far exceed normal levels, up by at least twenty percent.

It was a form of incentive; shifting from simple employment to self-sustaining production placed the initiative and reward in their own hands.

Lin Qinghen wouldn’t cover the wages for farm workers, nor would he charge rent.

But the land wasn’t his; it belonged to the Yin family, and part of the produce would go to them.

“We’ll be transparent,” Lin Qinghen explained. “Half of the yield goes to Die Meng and half to the Yin family. I’ll provide the formula, and you’ll provide the land.”

As for the Alchemist Association, they didn’t have the formula or the land, but they still had a significant role to play. The plantation under the medicine shops would remain as is, operating as it always had. Lin Qinghen could sell the formula directly to them, without taking a share of their output.

Moreover, the plantations’ crops could only be used to refine elixirs, so ultimately, all the produce would still go to the alchemists. Lin Qinghen needed the Alchemist Association’s participation to endorse his system alongside Die Meng.

“The Alchemist Association and Die Meng will buy the materials that individuals produce at a unified price. I’ll negotiate the purchase price with President Mu to ensure fairness,” Lin Qinghen continued.

Lin Qinghen remembered his first experience selling materials, nearly getting scammed. “What you wouldn’t want for yourself, don’t impose on others.” If the crops were high quality, the buying price had to be fair to protect the majority’s interests.

This foundation was crucial, but there was another point even more important.

“After the Alchemist Association acquires these types of raw materials, they must refine a batch of elixirs for the buyer at no additional cost, according to the material ratios. Die Meng will also provide this service as a bonus for material growers and suppliers,” Lin Qinghen said. “President Mu, you all have plenty of profit; a bit of responsibility for Lei City shouldn’t be too difficult, right?”

Mu Jiu thought it over, neither outright agreeing nor refusing. “We’ll have to discuss the ratios and prices in detail.”

Lin Qinghen’s ideas were clear, but his model was a shock to everyone present. Yin Hengxie remained silent, still digesting the implications.

In fact, everyone could benefit from Lin Qinghen’s plan.

For the Yin family, they could finally access the lands Xu Yaoyang had held tight. If not for Lin Qinghen, those lands would still be out of reach.

Now, these lands could be put to use. They’d receive thirty percent, and Lin Qinghen promised that Die Meng would refine the materials into elixirs for the Yin family’s storehouse at a low, cooperative rate.

The Alchemist Association would profit too.

The steady supply of Lin Qinghen’s formula was a major boon for them. Higher purchase prices were understandable, and refining elixirs for free was doable if they managed their workload well.

Lin Qinghen could also benefit, with Die Meng as a primary buyer of materials. He could make money from the Alchemist Association by selling potions and from the Yin family by selling elixirs.

For Lei City’s people, the benefits were even greater. Cultivating Yellow-Tier spirit plants wasn’t tough; it was safe and just required some care and labor.

Lin Qinghen wasn’t worried about them backing out or playing tricks; Spirit World’s alliance oaths worked better than contracts. He’d tried it himself.

Even so, there were still some concerns.

“Isn’t the share we’re giving too generous?” Yin Miao asked boldly. “Only sixty percent? Even the most generous medicine shop wouldn’t offer that.”

“Even if we took ninety percent, there’d be people rushing to join just for the chance to help refine elixirs,” Yin Miao continued. “Are you sure you don’t want to charge even a deposit, just in case they ruin the crops? Qinghen, think it over.”

Some Alchemist Association benefactors nodded in agreement, echoing these sentiments.

Lin Qinghen had considered it. Failed crops could be replanted until they succeeded, with a penalty system to prevent exploitative use of potions. But he had no plans to require deposits; that was non-negotiable.

“The lower the entry barrier, the better,” he said. “Die Meng is just starting up; I’m not afraid to share the profit. Why should you be?”

“But…”

“Enough, Yin Miao. You still don’t understand.” Yin Hengxie interrupted, “Qinghen is right; sixty percent is more than sufficient for us.”

If all the lands in Lei City operated as planned, the Yin family’s share would be more than enough, with plenty to spare.

Mu Jiu stayed silent, giving Yin Hengxie a serious look after all this time.

“It’s an enormous profit, enough for the whole of Lei City to know, and soon, beyond Lei City,” Yin Hengxie added.

“People of the Spirit World follow the scent of profit. Yin Miao… tell me, how long has it been since fresh blood flowed into Lei City?”