Chapter 659 360: A Rare Moment of Leisure

Having said this, his gaze swept over everyone present.

His eyes fell first on Su Caocao, then Hex Luo, the Bihai Sect Elders, and the various Commerce Association Stewards. Their reactions were mixed. Some appeared calm, others ashamed, but most were deeply uneasy.

Lü Zhong retracted his gaze and continued, "You should all try to look further ahead. The development of the Nether Abyss Continent is already showing its first signs of success, with an output rivaling that of Bihai. If this trend continues, given the continent's vast, untapped resources, I believe it's entirely possible for it to one day surpass the Bihai Domain."

'Rather than squabbling over the cake, they should be thinking about how to make it bigger.'

And that's not to mention that the Spirit Tide still hadn't receded.

For a long time to come, the concentration of nature's spiritual energy would continue to rise.

Although the Qinghe Realm's excessive consumption of Spiritual Qi meant a golden age of cultivation lasting millennia was no longer possible, there was still ample opportunity for expansion over the next one or two thousand years.

'Besides, I have a plan to draw in Void Spiritual Energy and strengthen this realm.'

'Unfortunately, the plan isn't easy to implement. I'll have to wait until after I successfully achieve Divinity Transformation. Only then will I have the strength to resist the Void Demon Gods and put it into action.'

'Otherwise, it would be the same as handing the Qinghe Realm over to the Celestial Demons on a silver platter.'

Immediately following this, Lü Zhong issued the Nether Abyss Continent Exploration Order.

For the next five hundred years, the Bihai Sect's focus would shift here, and the Chengde Commerce Association was to cooperate closely.

All surplus population and cultivators within the Bihai Domain were to be sent to the Nether Abyss Continent for development until the Exploration Order expired.

Everyone in the hall breathed a collective sigh of relief at Lü Zhong's decision, glad their own interests were secure. But at the same time, they couldn't help but wonder about their ancestor's true intentions. Pouring the sect's full power into developing the Nether Abyss Continent for five hundred years... what would that place look like by then? It would probably become a land so prosperous it could rival Central Earth.

...

「Tide Cave.」

Inside the Waterside Pavilion, Lü Zhong was sipping his tea.

Just then, Yu Feng'Er, who was beside him, put down a sour fruit and said abruptly, "My dear, you have to tell me the truth. What is Yaoyun's real background? Don't tell me..."

"PFFT!" Lü Zhong couldn't help but spit out his tea.

Seeing that no one else was around to witness it, he flicked his sleeve, gathering the mist of tea into a small sphere. He then tossed it into the lotus pond outside. Only then did he turn to Yu Feng'Er with a wry smile.

"Darling, what on earth are you thinking?"

"But the rumors outside all say that Yaoyun is actually your illegitimate daughter. That's why you're taking such good care of her, making her a Direct Disciple and issuing the Exploration Order. It's obvious you want to turn the Nether Abyss Continent into her personal fiefdom," Yu Feng'Er said, finally revealing what was truly on her mind.

"Heh, you've misunderstood, my dear," Lü Zhong said with a faint smile, and proceeded to explain Yaoyun's innate aptitude.

"GASP! It's really—" Yu Feng'Er was stunned.

Immediately, she became embarrassed.

"My dear, I was wrong to suspect you."

"It's nothing. What can't be said between Dao Companions? It's better to say it out loud than to let it fester into a misunderstanding." Lü Zhong continued sipping his tea, not minding at all.

"My dear!"

"Hm?"

"I... I invited Sister Shui over!" Yu Feng'Er said with a wide grin.

Yu Feng'Er's status had greatly increased after her Nascent Soul Formation, and besides, the relationship between Lü Zhong and Shuini was no longer that of master and disciple. After the day the three of them had all shared a bed, the two women had begun to call each other sisters.

Er, what?

Lü Zhong was about to speak when he sensed a familiar aura. A rainbow-hued streak of light landed, and Shuini's figure appeared, giving him no time to prepare.

"Hmph, you certainly kept me waiting!" The moment Shuini entered the pavilion, she plopped down beside Lü Zhong without a shred of ceremony, her beautiful eyes filled with reproach as she gazed at him.

She had waited and waited at the gates of the True Spirit Sect, but Lü Zhong never showed up. If Yu Feng'Er hadn't sent her a message, she might have turned into a veritable Husband-Watching Stone.

Meeting Shuini's gaze, Lü Zhong suddenly felt like a heartless scoundrel.

"Alright," he sighed silently.

'I'm going to be busy for a while.'

...

「Three years passed in the blink of an eye.」

Lü Zhong's days became packed. He was busy with dual cultivation, refining the Giant Spirit Mask with the Spirit Communication Mantra, and continuing his cultivation with Pills. All this was to ensure his cultivation steadily progressed so he could break through to the Late-stage Nascent Soul realm as soon as possible.

With one task after another, he rarely had a moment's rest.

During this period, the Southern Barbarian lands were relatively peaceful.

After all, the biggest source of turmoil—Lü Zhong himself—had been in seclusion the whole time.

The Nether Abyss Continent Exploration Order he had issued certainly caused a stir, but it was mostly confined to the Bihai Sect's territory. The rest of the Southern Barbarian lands were largely unaffected and remained immersed in the golden age of cultivation brought by the Spirit Tide, with all the various sects and families flourishing.

The Immortal Sects, for their part, had also quieted down.

Led by Hee Yun, the Immortal Sect cultivators were busy gathering supplies.

Judging by their frantic, cost-is-no-object acquisition of all kinds of supplies, it was clear that the "death tide" in Central Earth was approaching. A battle for the very survival of the Gui Miao Sect was about to begin.

...

On this day, Lü Zhong appeared in his Quiet Chamber.

A while ago, Shuini had finally been unable to take it anymore and returned to the True Spirit Sect. Meanwhile, Yu Feng'Er had entered a state of seclusion to nurture her pregnancy and wouldn't be coming out for a long time.

He finally had some free time.

After his battle with the Gounan Ghost Emperor ended, Lü Zhong had, as a matter of course, obtained the Ghost Cultivator's possessions. Taking advantage of this free time, he planned to take stock of them.

With a flip of his hand, a Storage Ring appeared in his palm.

The ring was simple and archaic in design, forged entirely from Silver Essence. Due to long-term immersion in dense Yin Qi, its color had turned a grayish-black, but fortunately, this did not affect its function.

'In terms of the Void Netherstone's size, it's even bigger than the one I have! And the purity is much higher...' Lü Zhong thought, his heart swelling with anticipation.

He immediately began to refine it.

Then, he extended his Divine Sense into it, and his mind was instantly flooded with a pleasant surprise.

A full one hundred thousand cubic meters!

Exactly ten times the size of Lü Zhong's current Storage Ring.

A good start!