Martial Arts: I Have a Wilderness World

Chapter 617: Chapter 318: Mark of Ten Thousand Races

Additionally, once the renovations are complete, the Hall of Ten Thousand Races will expand to just over an acre and a half. He will also have one opportunity to add to and alter the layout of the first floor.

This could include partitioning off rooms, rearranging certain fixtures, and so on.

This wasn’t particularly important to him, but it was very convenient. He could completely remodel it to create various zones, moving things like Zhang Jinquan’s apothecary, Ding Xing’s study, and the research rooms for the planting and breeding workshops inside. He could also adjust the position and orientation of cabinets.

As for the rest of the changes, Cheng Zongyang didn’t pay them much mind.

He took out a brush and paper and recorded the details of the Mark of Ten Thousand Races, intending to have Luo Dingran study it thoroughly to discover more potential applications. As for the "Savings Card" function, that was something he was determined to implement.

When Luo Dingran returned, he read the description of the Mark of Ten Thousand Races that Cheng Zongyang had copied down. After hearing Cheng Zongyang explain the application model for the card, he immediately understood its convenience, its potential for an irreplaceable monopoly in Jade Peak Immortal City, and its all-encompassing ability to harvest Souls!

This move was tantamount to robbing the bound individuals of even the chance to reincarnate... No, it was more like they would all be "reincarnated" into the Wilderness World as Spirit Beasts, Monsters, and the like.

Luo Dingran suddenly asked, "Does this also include a Cultivator’s Primordial Spirit and Nascent Soul?"

Cheng Zongyang was taken aback; he hadn’t actually considered that. He said uncertainly, "Those aren’t considered Souls, are they?"

Then he shook his head. "We don’t need to worry about that for now. If it works, it works. If not, there’s nothing we can do about it."

"But there’s another problem." Luo Dingran’s expression remained grave. "If everyone uses the Mark of Ten Thousand Races, and all their Souls enter the Wilderness World after they die, doesn’t that mean there will be no more Soul Slaves in the future? And that your Soul Gathering Stele will no longer be able to be upgraded?

Even if there are always some who won’t use it, they’ll likely be a small minority. Once the Mark of Ten Thousand Races is rolled out, the vast majority of people will use it."

Cheng Zongyang fell into thought again. This outcome did indeed create a conflict.

Unless he restricted the use of the Mark of Ten Thousand Races—for instance, limiting it only to Cultivators. Compared to Cultivators, the number of ordinary people was vastly larger.

But this restriction could still be relaxed, extending it to Martial Artists of the Upper Three Grades and above. That would broaden the user base somewhat.

As for the Soul Gathering Stele, that wasn’t as important.

A Cultivator’s Soul could upgrade the Soul Gathering Stele’s Level, or it could be taken into the Wilderness World and sacrificed to increase its Spiritual Qi concentration. That was also a conflict.

He decided to focus on the Mark of Ten Thousand Races first.

After Cheng Zongyang explained his thoughts, Luo Dingran considered them and agreed that the approach was viable. He said, "My Lord, your subordinate believes this proposal is feasible. Compared to those with high Cultivation, those with low Cultivation and ordinary people still make up the vast majority. It won’t be an issue."

Cheng Zongyang nodded. "Then for now, let’s restrict its use to Martial Artists of the Upper Three Grades and above, as well as Cultivators. When the time comes, discuss it thoroughly with the others and see if you can come up with anything else. As for developing the storage-related functions, you all should start looking into that as well. See if you can perfect it. I’ll work on perfecting it too."

"Yes," Luo Dingran said with a cupped-fist salute.

Afterward, Cheng Zongyang also informed him that the market cottage was undergoing "renovations."

For the next three days, nothing inside could be operated. However, Cheng Zongyang’s own access would not be affected.

With the most pressing issue—the update to the market cottage—handled, Cheng Zongyang didn’t linger. He left and reappeared in the mountain cave.

Looking at the spacious cave, Cheng Zongyang knew the next time he used it would be... well, the next time. ’Yep, that makes sense.’

He still didn’t hurry back. Instead, he teleported to the waypoint on the surface of the East Sea Abyss.

Next, he began setting up a second, backup Teleportation Array, in case the first one was ever destroyed and caused problems with future travel.

After he finished setting it up, Cheng Zongyang looked at the fewer than ten Top Grade Spirit Stones he had left and shook his head slightly.

This stuff was too expensive to buy—a single one cost Ten Thousand Points, an expense he couldn’t afford to waste. The ones he was using now were only for the Teleportation Arrays. The best of his various Defense Arrays only used High Tier Spirit Stones.

Once the second Teleportation Array was in place, Cheng Zongyang teleported again, returning to the Cheng Mansion.

As it happened, Ma Yue was sweeping the courtyard of the Cheng Mansion.

Because so many secrets were involved, there were no plans to hire servants for the Cheng Mansion. For now, Ma Yue could only do the sweeping from time to time. After he moved out, the task would have to be handed over to Li Cungang or Li Yihuo.

"Boss." As Cheng Zongyang came out of the study, Ma Yue quickly put down his broom and greeted him with a cupped-fist salute.

Cheng Zongyang gave a slight nod. "How are things progressing?" he asked as he walked toward the wooden pavilion.

Ma Yue immediately began to report on his activities over the past two days.

"Boss, regarding the matter of the corpses, Zhao Lide said we can trade for the first batch tomorrow. Yesterday, he mentioned there were ten bodies, all of them Loose Cultivators who died in the West District.

According to him, these Loose Cultivators were all elderly men in the Qi Cultivation Stage who died of old age. They have been at the Corpse Collection Manor for seven days and remain unclaimed. As for the matter of me joining the burial department at the Corpse Collection Manor, Zhao Lide has already arranged it.

Yesterday, I made an initial visit to the Corpse Collection Manor to familiarize myself with the place. Including Zhao Lide, the burial department has seven people, so with me, that makes eight. Zhao Lide told me he has already convinced all his subordinates in the department. He’s thinking of raising the price of the corpses a bit so that the others can also get a share of the profits.

He proposed raising the price per corpse to twenty-two Spirit Stones. He would take ten, and the other six would each get two. Afraid that I wouldn’t believe him, Zhao Lide invited everyone to a brothel in the South District for drinks last night and laid the matter bare. The other six did indeed know about it and all agreed to the two-Spirit-Stone reward Zhao Lide promised each of them.

Boss, I took the liberty of agreeing to this, and even raised the price to twenty-five Spirit Stones—thirteen for Zhao Lide, while the others still get two each. However, this isn’t the price for a single corpse, but for two corpses. Zhao Lide agreed to this as well."

Cheng Zongyang nodded in satisfaction but didn’t interrupt, continuing to listen quietly. He couldn’t help but admire Ma Yue’s methods. ’By dragging everyone into it, they’ll all be more secretive to avoid being discovered.’

"As for the house, to speed things up, I found a broker in the South District and secured a small cottage near the Corpse Collection Manor. It’s not large, about the size of your living room, my Lord, but it’s adequate for basic living and cooking.

The rent is twenty Spirit Crystals a month. It’s cheaper mainly because it’s near the Corpse Collection Manor in a rather remote area with a mediocre environment, so not many people like to live there. The contract is already signed, I’ve paid a year’s rent, and I can move in at any time."

After hearing Ma Yue’s report, Cheng Zongyang smiled. "Very well done. Just proceed according to your own plans; I won’t interfere. But you’ll be over there alone, so you can’t neglect your life-saving measures or your Cultivation."

As he spoke, he took out some Talismans—some for attack, some for Defense. He also produced some Elixirs for healing, some for detoxification, and some for enhancing Cultivation. There was a considerable variety and quantity.

Cheng Zongyang placed the items on the stone table in the wooden pavilion and continued, "Keep these for yourself. As for Spirit Stones, it’s the same as before: if you need any, go to Shopkeeper Li. I’ve already instructed him. He will support you with whatever you need."

A wave of gratitude washed over Ma Yue. ’The Boss trusts and supports me so much; I must do an even better job.’ He cupped his fist and said, "Yes, Boss, I will remember. However, for future handovers, I plan to coordinate with Li Cungang. This will ensure there’s no direct link to you, Boss, and it won’t immediately implicate the Shopkeeper either."

"Good. You’ve been thoughtful," Cheng Zongyang said with a smile. Then, remembering something, he brought out the Soul Gathering Stele.

"Take this with you. When you get a chance, bury it underground in the cemetery."

"Yes, my Lord." Ma Yue recognized the Soul Gathering Stele and didn’t ask any further questions.

Afterward, Ma Yue finished sweeping the last of the dust from the courtyard and left the Cheng Mansion with the Soul Gathering Stele.

Cheng Zongyang, meanwhile, took out a Spirit Pill, popped it into his mouth to begin Refining it, and continued to condense his True Essence. At the same time, he picked up the travelogue again and began to read. As for the matter of the bounty, he was in no hurry. He wanted to avoid a situation where he killed someone one moment and a bounty for them appeared the next.

Besides, even if he were to post a bounty, he wouldn’t go himself. He planned to experiment with a certain item before proceeding.

Time flew, and soon it was the next day. With basically nothing else to do, Cheng Zongyang spent his time improving his Cultivation and waiting for the shipment from the Cyan Dragon Commerce Association.

When Noon arrived, Li Cungang returned to the mansion alone and headed for the study.

"My Lord." Li Cungang knocked on the door and called out.

"Come in." Cheng Zongyang put down the travelogue in his hands and looked toward the door.

"My Lord, I’ve received the Universal Storage Pouch that Ma Yue sent over," Li Cungang said as he approached.

Cheng Zongyang immediately smiled. ’Ma Yue is really reliable,’ he thought. "Just give it to me. You can get back to your work."

"Yes." Li Cungang put down the Storage Pouch, immediately gave a cupped-fist salute, and withdrew, closing the door behind him.