Martial Arts: I Have a Wilderness World

Chapter 520: Chapter 279: The War Resumes (Part 2)

"Boss, if I’m not mistaken, given the current situation, they’ll likely dispatch all their Innate Great Perfection experts to besiege Su Wunian."

Cheng Zongyang agreed.

Su Wunian had broken through by devouring a Demon Core. He had been incredibly lucky to succeed.

He had learned from detailed records from the Ice and Fire Cultivation Immortality Realm about the Inner Core devouring method. This technique involved devouring the Inner Core of an Extraordinary creature or a Cultivator’s Golden Core to achieve a Realm Breakthrough into the Extraordinary Realm. Those who succeeded this way possessed greater combat power than those who broke through using their own self-refinement methods.

This was because they could borrow the Abilities of the Demon Core, such as the flame Ability of the Fiery Sun Bird.

As a result, their combat prowess was immense. While their future potential was limited, it wasn’t a dead end. If they could continuously devour High Tier Demon Cores, they could still find opportunities for breakthroughs, but the process would become increasingly perilous and would gradually affect their mental state.

However, while stepping into the Extraordinary Realm granted strength incomparable to the Innate Realm, there were still limits to that strength.

The most critical issue among these was the replenishment of their internal Spiritual Power!

A Spirit Gathering Array had been set up in Jade Peak Immortal City, but after two months, the internal Spiritual Qi had only marginally increased. This concentration was less than one-tenth of the Spiritual Qi levels in the Zizan County South District.

This indicated that the Spiritual Qi in the outside world was appallingly scarce.

Therefore, after Su Wunian excessively consumed the residual power from the Demon Core, he would only grow weaker if he couldn’t replenish his Spiritual Qi.

Ultimately, there wouldn’t be much difference between him and an Innate Expert.

But he figured Su Wunian must have realized this problem. That was why he couldn’t possibly handle everything personally. Otherwise, there would have been no need for him to bring the top experts from eighteen Gate Influences and the two bureaus—the Six Paths Bureau and the Reincarnation Bureau—to the front lines.

His role was more effective as a deterrent or for providing reinforcements.

"If that’s the case, we don’t need to worry too much. Let them fight their own war. You all just focus on your Cultivation. As for supplies, Zongwen, have a thorough discussion with Steward Chen from the Da Yi Commerce Association. Stockpile more daily necessities."

"Yes." Cheng Zongwen cupped his hands.

Li Lu then asked, "Boss, once the war starts, the common people will surely retreat. Should we take in the refugees that pass through here?"

They still remembered the aftermath of war in the county towns and villages, where the scenes were almost all ones of utter devastation.

The fighting had only stopped for a little over a year, and now it was starting again. They feared even more people would die.

When Li Lu spoke, quite a few people shot him surprised glances. No one had expected him to be the one to raise this issue.

Cheng Zongyang fell silent for a moment, pondering.

’Jade Peak Immortal City still needs people—not just Martial Artists, but also ordinary people for construction and production.’

’The Immortal City seems spacious enough now, but it definitely won’t be in the future. Besides, according to the development plan he’d created for the Celestial Break Gang, these commoners would eventually be relocated to the outskirts of the County Town to form villages. The inner city would then become a commercial hub and residential area for Martial Artists and Cultivators. This would also prevent conflicts between them and the common people.’

"Take in those who pass through, but we need to set a limit. How are the plans for the villages coming along?" Cheng Zongyang said.

At this, Li Xuejin stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said,

"Boss, we have screened the area around the County Town and identified twelve suitable locations. According to our preliminary plans, each village can accommodate around two thousand people. This would allow us to relocate about twenty-five thousand people in total, enough to move half of the city’s commoners out by offering them land as an incentive."

’It’s still too small,’ Cheng Zongyang murmured after hearing Li Xuejin’s report.

’One hundred square kilometers sounded large, but Jade Peak Immortal City alone took up more than a quarter of it. The remaining area connected Tiantuan Village and a small part of Tianduan Mountain. Squeezing twelve villages into that space would make things feel a bit crowded.’

"Proceed with the plan, then. The buildings within the city will also be gradually modified in the future," Cheng Zongyang said.

’Expanding the Array’s coverage was something to consider later, when the Immortal City’s population became too dense. There was no need to worry about it for now.’

With the main issues addressed, Cheng Zongyang said,

"I will be entering secluded cultivation to attempt a breakthrough to the Innate Realm. The duration is uncertain. Matters in the city will proceed as planned. Handle them as you see fit; there’s no need to consult me. Is there anything else?"

Everyone present was stunned, then shocked, to hear that Cheng Zongyang was entering secluded cultivation to break through to the Innate Realm.

’How long has it been?’

Xu Tieshan and the others were at a loss for words to describe the bitter feeling in their hearts.

’This was frighteningly fast.’

They too had experienced the benefits of the Qi Gathering Pill, but they needed time to recover and slowly absorb its power. Even with an unlimited supply of pills, they couldn’t possibly match Cheng Zongyang’s speed.

’It could only be a matter of Talent.’

"Boss," Cheng Zongwen stepped forward, "last night, Steward Chen mentioned that the Da Yi Commerce Association wants to sign a long-term, exclusive supply contract for Wilderness Rice after the new year. Do you need to be there for it?"

"For how many years?" Cheng Zongyang asked.

Cheng Zongwen replied, "It’s up to us. Any length is fine. As for quantity, the more, the better."

Cheng Zongyang pondered for a moment.

’Production in the Wilderness World is no longer a concern. There are a full 3,000 mu of farmland reclaimed in Botao Town. We’re using compost made from fish carcasses as fertilizer. Each harvest yields nine million jin. That’s enough fertilizer to cultivate 4.5 million mu of land.’

’That’s thirty-six million jin a year, enough fertilizer for eighteen million mu of land.’

’Once I figure out the principles behind the creation and operation of that artificial sun in the Ice and Fire Cultivation Immortality Realm and create one in the Transmission Space, the problem of expanding Wilderness Rice cultivation will be solved.’

"Let’s sign for ten years first," Cheng Zongyang said. "We’ll see how things are after ten years. As for supply, we can provide thirty million jin annually for these ten years."

’He no longer needed to be secretive or explain himself to anyone.’

’As for the remaining six million jin, besides what’s needed for seeds, the rest can be put up on the consignment board to exchange for Points.’

’After all, people were still buying Wilderness Rice. With more volume at the same price, it sold quite fast.’

"Then, you..."

"You sign it," Cheng Zongyang cut his cousin off. "You can represent me. If the Da Yi Commerce Association is worried about potential issues, then they don’t have to sign. The Cheng Clan Commerce Association can just sell it ourselves in the future."

Hearing this, Cheng Zongwen didn’t object. With a solemn expression, he cupped his hands and said, "Yes, I understand."

Seeing that no one had any more questions, Cheng Zongyang had Zhou Zhendong, Cheng Zongwen, and Li Cungang stay behind.

The rest of them dispersed.

Cheng Zongyang handed Li Cungang a Pill Bottle containing three Qi Gathering Pills and said,

"These are for your Cultivation. Dissolve one pill in thirty jin of water, and drink only one jin at a time. It will help raise your Cultivation level. But be sure to solidify your foundation to avoid hindering future Realm Breakthroughs."

Li Cungang accepted the Pill Bottle and cupped his hands happily. "Thank you for the gift, Boss. I will keep your words in mind."

’He had tried the effects of a Qi Gathering Pill before. Even cutting one into pieces and consuming it was difficult, as the rush of Spiritual Qi was hard to bear, but the results were extremely potent.’

’If he finished all three of these pills, he was confident he could break through to the Great Perfection Realm!’

’At that point, a Realm Breakthrough wouldn’t be far off!’

Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly and continued, "Continue to preside over Jade Peak Immortal City. While I’m in seclusion, help keep an eye on things and don’t let anyone cause trouble. Fighting and brawling are forbidden in the Immortal City."

"Yes, Boss!" Li Cungang nodded in agreement.

Cheng Zongyang then looked at his two cousins. "Zhendong, Zongwen, if something truly unsolvable comes up, then come find me in the basement of the house on Yunli Lane."

As he spoke, he took out two Tokens and gave one to each of them.

"I’ll remember."

"Got it!"

They both agreed.

Afterward, Cheng Zongyang left the Cheng Mansion and returned to the house on Yunli Lane.

’Although the Cheng Mansion had become the Cheng Family’s new base, the Array was already set up in the Yunli Lane basement, so there was no need to move it. This place would become his personal site for secluded cultivation, as well as a storage place for silver in the future.’

Jade Peak Immortal City was now running smoothly. The income in silver was only breaking even at the moment, and he had paid off his debt to the Da Yi Commerce Association with Wilderness Rice.

Any future surplus silver—earnings minus expenses—would be sent here for his convenient use.

Arriving in the basement and seeing the Array operating normally, he didn’t pay it much mind.

He then sat down cross-legged, and his consciousness entered the Wilderness World.

Because of matters in the Cultivation Immortality Realm, there were many things in the Wilderness World that he hadn’t intervened in; Luo Dingran had been handling them all.

During that time, he had put several things on hold: two half-buried ruins discovered by the exploration teams, a potential relocation site found by Luo Dingran, Ding Xing’s comprehension of the Celestial Human Health Cultivation Skill, and his own plan to cultivate and break through to the Innate Realm.

Now that the County Town was stable, he could begin handling these matters while he waited to earn more silver to reinvest in the Wilderness World.