17: Letter from home

In the following days, Shen Li began to Cultivate within the City Lord's Mansion, primarily at night by the water.

His Cultivation naturally increased day by day.

And the changes in Black Ridge City were also increasing day by day.

The protective Yunmai Heshui Formation isolated the fiery earth Qi from outside, so the temperature inside became milder and more humid.

With Cultivation techniques and rainfall every now and then, a good deal of the sand was solidified into soil.

Although it was still somewhat barren, the situation had improved significantly.

At least some of the common people in Black Ridge City began to spontaneously reclaim wasteland and plant some less demanding grains.

As for water sources, there was no need to worry.

Currently, Black Ridge City only had over three hundred households; even if it were three thousand households, the underground river beneath the Living Spring Water Vein could sustain such consumption.

Thinking further ahead was too distant and worrying about too much.

While Black Ridge City was bustling, in the distance, a group riding camels gazed at Black Ridge City from afar.

Among them, a red-haired woman in a large red robe with wild hair squinted her eyes, looking at Black Ridge City before her.

"Is this Black Ridge City, where that Shen Family Immortal Seed is located?"

Zhou San's temples were sweating; the weather was too hot, and his Cultivation was not high, so he couldn't resist the heat or cold.

Moreover, the Black Horn Gang leader beside him felt like a large furnace, making it even more unbearable.

He took a sip of water from his flask, nodded, and said with difficulty, "Yes, Black Ridge City."

"This place was given to the Shen Family by Qingchi Mountain to guard. In the past, they weren't keen on managing this city in the Yellow Sand Plains, so they only moved in some common people and occasionally dispatched Shen Family Outer Sect Disciples to patrol.

Later, a collateral Disciple made a deal with our Black Horn Gang, and slowly, this city became our Black Horn Gang's stronghold."

"Some time ago, that Shen Family Immortal Seed suddenly visited and killed Zhou Ba. Xiao Liu was also unlucky; he was originally exhausted from long-distance travel and wanted to rest here for a while, but he didn't rest well. Instead, he was robbed of a heaven and earth treasure.

All his brothers were killed, and he himself even lost his tongue."

"So, according to you, this Shen Family Immortal Seed has extraordinary methods?"

Zhou San shook his head.

"I'm not sure. Just looking at the methods, it doesn't seem like a naive hand, but the actions are too cruel and not smooth. There's also a bit of the Immortal Seedling's sharp Killing Intent."

"Thinking about these things is meaningless. We'll know the truth once we go and see."

"Aren't you going to change your clothes? Our Black Horn Gang... is indeed somewhat infamous."

"No need. It's precisely to tell this Immortal Seedling that our Black Horn Gang has arrived."

Inside the City Lord's Mansion.

Shen Li finished his Cultivation, but he heard a cry in the air.

"A letter! A letter!"

Stepping out of the main hall, he looked up and saw a bird resembling a pelican, but much larger, circling in the air.

It looked clumsy but its Realm was a solid Qi Refining Third Layer.

It was a Spirit Beast.

Looking at the mark on its body, it was in the shape of a crescent moon.

It seemed to be from Crescent Lake Market.

"The Wang Family?"

Shen Li wondered, then took out a Dao guide, and Spiritual Qi rose like green smoke.

After the pelican sniffed it, it quickly opened its mouth and spat out several bags and a letter.

Using Spirit Control Technique to slowly lower the objects, he saw the pelican lingering.

Shen Li gritted his teeth and took out a Spirit Stone from his embrace as 'delivery fee'.

Only then did he see the pelican happily fly away.

Black Ridge City was in ruins waiting to be rebuilt, naturally needing many things.

For example, some Spirit Plant seeds, Spirit water, and fertilizers.

These cost Shen Li a lot of Spirit Stones.

Currently, the number of Spirit Stones in his hand was less than two hundred.

This gave him quite a headache.

He could only hope that this one mu of Spirit Field would bring him more income.

Opening the bags, the Spiritual Qi and plant essence that rushed out invigorated him.

[Half-Ninth Grade Spirit Plant - Crescent Moon Rice, Description: Can grow by absorbing moonlight Qi. After consumption, it can amplify Spiritual Qi and temporarily increase affinity with moonlight Qi.]

Crescent Moon Rice was a special variety cultivated by the Wang Family's Spirit Farmers, and the Wang Family cultivated it on a large scale in Crescent Lake.

Because it was close to Crescent Lake and an Eighth Grade Spiritual Vein, the annual income from Crescent Moon Rice alone was tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, which was simply exorbitant profit.

Although it wasn't a Ninth Grade, due to its unique affinity with moonlight Qi, there was no shortage of buyers.

The seeds for this one mu of Spirit Field alone were worth fifty Spirit Stones.

In addition, this item could only be planted once; its Origin had long been cut off by the Wang Family.

This was a unique monopoly patent method in the Immortal Martial World.

Unless it was a Spirit Farmer with deep Aptitude, they might be able to crack it.

Shen Li thought of his clumsy Spirit Farmer, Chen He, and inexplicably sighed.

Handing the items to the backyard, he returned to the hall and opened the letter.

Unexpectedly, there were three letters from his Family.

One letter was from Second Master Shen, Shen Li's half-backer, who controlled the Shen Family's treasury authority.

Opening it, Shen Li frowned.

It turned out that the Shen Family had introduced a new rule: the Outer Sect Disciple merit evaluation. This meant that near the end of next year, a Shen Family Elder would bring Disciples to inspect the territories managed by the Shen Family Outer Sect Disciples.

They would check the development and assess the situation.

Based on the actual situation, merits would be awarded, which could be exchanged for treasures from the Shen Family's treasury. Furthermore, these merits could be used not only within the Shen Family but also anywhere in Qingchi Mountain.

From this letter, it was not difficult to see that this was not a Shen Family rule at all, but a Qingchi Mountain rule!

After conquering the Yellow Sand Plains, it was time to consolidate, so Qingchi Mountain began to focus on administrative matters. It was also not difficult to see Qingchi Mountain's domineering nature.

With a single command, all Cultivation Families had to obey!

The second letter was a private letter from Second Master Shen.

Some of the words in it were quite intriguing, roughly saying this:

[Little Qi has been in high spirits these past few years, but yesterday he angrily ran to the Family's discussion hall, indirectly inquiring about Black Ridge City.]

[If there's a problem, it's fine. Send me a letter, and I'll mediate. We're all Family, so let's avoid hurting feelings.]

[A few days ago, I heard that the Wang Family was waiting for you, and I wondered where the joy came from. I didn't expect you had already achieved a Breakthrough to Qi Refining. I originally wanted to transfer you back home, but the Family Head rejected this decision.]

[He said that since you are outside and have an Immortal Seedling, you should be a carefree flying bird, not trapped within the Family, Cultivating in a rigid manner.]

[However, even though you are in Qi Refining, you are no longer a main branch Disciple, so we cannot allocate Cultivation resources to you. Do not bear any grudges.]

[Although I cannot allocate resources, I can personally give you some provisions. Years ago, when I was training in the Yellow Sand Plains, I met an old man named 'Shazan' who practiced the 'Little Sand Burial Technique'. You can go there, and with my letter, learn the Little Sand Burial Technique. I think it will give you a few more means of self-preservation.]