202: The Dragon King returns!

The Yin Domain and Yang Domain were split from the ancient Jingjue Kingdom ruins by a powerful Divine Ability user, which is why their flow of time and light and shadow are completely different from the outside world.

Such methods are extraordinary… not something an ordinary Cultivator can control.

Therefore, what seemed like only a few short months to Shen Li was actually two and a half years in the outside world.

Outside Black Ridge City.

A merchant caravan was approaching from a distance, following a straight post road.

Sand covered some parts of the road, but they were long accustomed to it.

The Yellow Sand Plains is vast and wide, making travel quite lonely.

However, as they traveled along this road, some of the desolation was blown away.

Martial artists and Loose Cultivators appeared from time to time, passing by the caravan, and many looked curiously, but after seeing the Qi Sect's banner, they no longer paid much attention.

Some loud Immortal Clan Cultivators, having replenished their supplies in Black Ridge City, brushed past the caravan.

They spoke of the missions they had received, where they could find Yao Beasts to practice their spell-fighting, and how much progress they had made on this trip.

Ou Yening sighed inwardly, thinking that a few years ago, this was still a desolate small city… yet in just a few short years, it had gained such vitality.

It was truly rare.

That Shen Li… he was truly extraordinary.

In truth, it wasn't that Shen Li was too powerful or his methods were so brilliant; it was more like picking the tallest among the short.

Back then, Immortal Sen Yan and Immortal Hong Tu had caused such a ruckus that almost all the markets and small gathering points in the Black Horn Mountain Range were destroyed by Yao Beasts.

As a result, in the vast Black Horn Mountain Range and its surrounding expansive sand sea, Black Ridge City was the only gathering point.

This was the first factor contributing to Black Ridge City's current prosperity.

The second factor was still due to Immortal Sen Yan, who, at that night banquet, allowed many crucial shops to enter the city.

These were the true keys to sustaining its prosperity.

Dan Hall, Talisman Hall, Feng Shui Geomancy, Four Seas Merchant Guild, Formation Hall, Food as Heaven, Red Sleeve Brothel, Miaoyin Brothel, Shang Gong Hall.

Back then, except for the Red Sleeve Brothel and Miaoyin Brothel which were a bit slower, the others almost immediately settled in Black Ridge City.

Outside Cultivators who killed Yao Beasts and returned to Black Ridge City could sell them to the Four Seas Merchant Guild; the Yao Beast blood could be sold to the Talisman Hall; the meat could go to Food as Heaven; and the inner core and spiritual essence could go to the Dan Hall.

After this whole process, with money in hand, they could go to an inn to cultivate, consume at Food as Heaven, buy weapons at the Qi Sect, or buy Medicinal Pills at the Dan Hall.

When they ran out of money, they would go hunt Yao Beasts again, a cycle that repeated endlessly.

Thus, a habit gradually formed, leading to a situation where, even if there were other gathering places now, they no longer considered or wished to go elsewhere.

Over time, Black Ridge City naturally developed.

Coming back to her senses… Ou Yening could only lament about the right time, right place, and right people.

Even though she handled administrative affairs well, in this world, Cultivators were truly powerful, and the scope of her authority was very limited.

She only controlled a few shops.

And Shen Li? He grasped both hands; Black Ridge City grew under a series of coincidences and the support of the Wang family, and now it greatly benefited him, Shen Li.

He himself was an Immortal Seedling, and his cultivation was not weak… after returning from this celebration, he would surely be at Qi Refining eighth layer, or even ninth layer?

Dao Foundation was within reach in the future… and herself…

Alas, forget it.

Shaking her head, Ou Yening stopped thinking. Passing by a small mountain, she felt a sudden tremor.

She reluctantly got up, stepped out of the carriage, and cupped her hands, saying,

“Thank you, Mountain God…”

After speaking, her Storage Pouch opened, and she tossed out several hundred catties of rare Ore.

Mountain God?

This is called a Mountain God? Isn't this a damn bandit?

Who is it?

Who else could it be? Besides the Earth Silkworm, there was no one else?

The Earth Silkworm's dense compound eyes opened, Spiritual Qi circulated, and it affixed the Ore to its Physical Body, greatly pleased.

This kind of Ore from the Central Plains was rare in the Yellow Sand Plains.

It nodded and then sank back into the earthpulse.

It clearly looked like a landlord.

This was normal, after all, during these days, demons often spied, and the Cultivators passing by might have Yao Beasts following them…

But these Yao Beasts would retreat at the sight of a Half-Step Dao Foundation aura… which truly saved Black Ridge City a lot of trouble.

Besides… a Half-Step Dao Foundation acting as a doorman… let him take some benefits.

Ou Yening looked enviously at that massive body… and sighed again.

“Comparing oneself to others truly makes one die of anger.”

Continuing forward, the sea buckthorn fruit trees on both sides became more numerous, densely planted along the road.

Not only that, the further they went, the more humid the air felt… looking closely, they saw that the main road had become a network of interconnected paths.

Lush green crop stalks swayed in the wind, and hundreds of thousands of ordinary people were weeding in the fields.

Clear water flowed in irrigation ditches, slowly seeping into the ground, with wisps of water vapor rising.

The Four Seasons Cycle Formation above their heads had expanded to such a size at some point… it was truly rare.

Ou Yening… sighed again and again.

“The water and wood Qi have formed; as long as no great Yao Beasts appear to wantonly destroy it, this place will sooner or later become an oasis in the sand sea.”

The road began to get congested, but fortunately, ordinary Loose Cultivators, martial artists, and common folk, upon seeing the Qi Sect's banner, all made way.

They soon arrived at the Outer City.

The Outer City gate had been wide open ever since the Earth Silkworm appeared.

People came day and night… it was impossible to close off the city.

Outside the Outer City, there were many street stalls… selling all sorts of strange and rare items, but Ou Yening didn't pay much attention and entered the city.

It was suddenly wide open!

Black Ridge City's development had been increasingly rapid during this period… besides the few crucial shops Immortal Sen Yan had instructed to open back then, the Beast Taming Immortal Sect, the Zhang family, and others had also opened branches here.

Many Cultivators from lesser-known Immortal Sects had also done the same, opening shops here and selling their unique specialized items.

Nothing else, being located in the central belly of the Yellow Sand Plains, Black Ridge City had the largest population.

Crowds were endless; wherever there were many people, the most abundant rewards could be found.

Everyone sought profit… hence they gladly came here.

So, in the past two and a half years, the cultivated land within the Outer City had quietly transformed into rows of pavilions.

Buildings had sprung up on both sides near the main road, with various shop names displayed on their plaques.

The Cang Hai Flower was located in the central area of the Outer City wall; the bluestone road circled around from there, creating a scenic view… then spread out in all directions!

It appeared much more beautiful.

The endless flow of people coming and going made the Outer City very lively.

There was also a Qi Sect shop within the Outer City. Ou Yening placed some Ore Materials there, checked the accounts, and then headed towards the Inner City.

As the first force to settle in… the Qi Sect naturally had a lot of prestige.

Entering the Inner City… passing the Living Spring Water Vein, by the well stood a peach tree, with unripe fruits growing on it, exuding a fragrant aroma.

Arriving at the nearby Qi Sect pavilion, after a busy period… it was already night.

The day slipped away quietly… Ou Yening slumped back in her chair, looking at the solemn and imposing City Lord's Mansion, and thought without reason.

“That celebration… by my calculations, it should be over by now.”

“I wonder what the situation is?”

“This Immortal Master Shen Li…”

Ou Yening, drowsily on the verge of falling asleep, heard these four words, and a hint of confusion flashed in her mind.

“Oh no… why am I starting to hallucinate?”

“Am I going to die suddenly?”

“This Immortal Master Shen Li.”

“?????”

Ou Yening, on her deathbed, sat up in shock.

The next moment, her suspicion was further confirmed.

Only Wang Teng's arrogant words exploded in the air.

“The celebration lasted two and a half years.”

“Welcome back, Immortal Master!”

…What Immortal Master?