50: Arrange city defense and train Taoist soldiers!

The Dharma boat swayed and finally arrived at Black Ridge City.

Black Ridge City, nestled between three small mountains and possessing natural barriers, was now bursting with a different kind of vitality.

A rich green appeared; it was the tender green of grains that had taken root and sprouted under the nourishment of Spiritual Qi.

Upon entering the great formation, abundant water vapor greeted them, dispelling the heat from their bodies.

As they disembarked from the Dharma boat, the common people bowed in greeting.

Shen Li paid no attention to the Mortals, simply walking straight ahead.

The massive, towering yellow sand walls had already been constructed successfully; Sun Dashan was very meticulous, not idling even when Shen Li went to the market.

After encircling the outer city, he felt the city walls were a bit weak, so he began to thicken them. By now, the thickest part of the city wall had reached a full meter.

It was so wide that patrols could walk side-by-side on it, making it extremely broad.

It must be said that the productivity of Cultivators was too high, but very few people would put precious Spiritual Qi to such inconspicuous uses.

They would maintain their status and not do such things.

Therefore, Cultivators like Sun Dashan were rare.

Seeing Shen Li return, Sun Dashan quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands and saying,

"Greetings, City Lord, greetings, Young Master Wang Teng."

Wang Teng had not forgotten what he had promised. Although he was usually very irritable, he was also loyal.

He took out a Jade Slip and said in a deep voice,

"You are not young anymore. Giving you minor arts like fighting techniques would probably harm you."

"I will give you this 'Lesser Sand Puppet Art.' This item has some connection to the Puppet Dao. At Qi Refining Third Layer, you can construct three sand soldiers to obey your commands, but it requires a high degree of mental focus. You need to practice constantly to unleash the power of this Lesser Art!"

Sun Dashan's face showed wild joy. He had originally thought Wang Teng was just saying it casually, but he didn't expect this Young Master Wang to actually remember that casual promise.

This was hundreds of Spirit Stones; his annual salary was only a dozen or so... he was set for life!

At this moment, he actually didn't dare to reach out.

Instead, he looked at Shen Li.

Shen Li smiled and said,

"Brother Wang's family has a great enterprise and doesn't care about this Lesser Art. You should accept it."

"Although it can't compare to combat Lesser Arts, it's versatile and can also assist you in cultivating the soil. Why not?"

"Thank you, City Lord, thank you, Young Master Wang Teng."

Wang Teng pouted, and the group continued forward.

Not long after, they saw the ninth-rank heaven and earth treasure, the Cang Hai Flower, which, when viewed from above within the planned outer city, resembled a flower.

Many common people were drawing water near the Cang Hai Flower, and the surrounding bluestone path was somewhat damp.

Inside the Cang Hai Flower, the blossoms swayed, and drops of dew were crystal clear, brimming with Spiritual Qi.

Sun Xiuqing stood by the water, squatting and looking at the Vein-Piercing Pangolin Fish within.

She looked a bit lonely.

A Vein-Piercing Pangolin Fish swam within, and a golden line on its spine was faintly visible.

After several months of recuperation, this place finally met the conditions for its positive growth.

The water vein, plus the influx of residual Spiritual Qi, allowed its spinal line to begin growing. Once it pierced through its head, it would become a ninth-rank heaven and earth treasure.

Then it would nourish the Living Spring Water Vein and the Cang Hai Flower, forming a 'never-ending' cycle.

Noticing the arrivals, Sun Xiuqing stood up and looked behind her, a hint of reverence flashing across her delicate, doll-like face.

She immediately jumped down and said in a childish voice,

"Greetings, Lord City Lord."

Shen Li chuckled, stroking her head, and asked with a smile,

"What are you looking at?"

"Looking at the water."

"What can you see?"

"I can see something flowing in the water."

"Hmm?"

Shen Li was surprised and exchanged glances with Wang Teng.

Whether it was the Shen Family or the Wang Family, cultivating an Immortal Seedling would inevitably involve a test.

The Spiritual Root test determined whether a child had the Aptitude for Cultivation, the strength of their Spiritual Root, and the speed at which they absorbed Spiritual Qi.

And this was generally invisible.

One type was an exception: the manifest type.

Some special Physiques would already show their divine peculiarities even before Cultivation.

Take Wang Teng as an example; he knew his own situation best. His Physique was the Liyang Body, with fire affinity in the world almost maxed out. On the day Wang Teng was born, a very rare heaven and earth treasure, 'Liyang Fire,' was born from the blazing sun and entered Wang Teng's body.

Therefore, he had been close to fire since childhood, and the power of his arts was the best in the Wang Family!

Afterward, everyone knew, the news was suppressed, but he received much support from the Wang Family's resources.

This was considered manifest.

And now, did Sun Xiuqing also have this manifest gene?

This meant that Sun Xiuqing's Aptitude should be extraordinary?

At this moment, Wang Teng felt a little regretful. He didn't expect to get a buy-one-get-two deal, giving away a Cultivation Genius?

But it was not yet certain...

Shen Li, on the other hand, stroked his chin, wondering whether to find someone to test Sun Xiuqing.

And also to inform his family to find an Qi Consumption Method.

Qi Consumption Methods were different from Lesser Arts; these fundamental Cultivation heart methods were rarely circulated outside. Lesser Arts could be bought, but without Cultivation and without an Qi Consumption Method to absorb Spiritual Qi, you still couldn't Cultivate.

This was the dilemma of Loose Cultivators.

For example, Sun Dashan completely relied on the most basic Qi Consumption Method to absorb Spiritual Qi, and through long-term soil cultivation, consumption, absorption, and refinement, he reached Qi Refining Third Layer.

His potential was limited, not worth mentioning.

Keeping this thought in mind, Shen Li said with a smile,

"Since you can see things flowing in the water, why not watch for a while longer?"

"But I have to follow my mother to farm tomorrow, so I'll only have time in the evening."

"It's fine, just say I said so. I heard your mother is a good cook?"

"Extremely delicious."

"Then please ask your mother to cook at the City Lord's Mansion. She doesn't need to farm anymore."

Sun Dashan, who had come upon hearing this, was a bit uneasy.

"Lord City Lord, my wife..."

"No matter."

Shen Li waved his hand to interrupt, patted Sun Xiuqing's head, and said,

"There's also a well in the city. What do you think is different about it?"

"The well is deep, but a bit cold, while the lake is vast and full of vitality."

Shen Li laughed heartily and led everyone away.

At this moment, he was more than half certain that Sun Xiuqing, before his eyes, had very high talent!

Upon returning to the City Lord's Mansion, Ruo Liuli greeted him, still flamboyant.

But facing Shen Li, she was very respectful, bowing her head submissively.

"Greetings, City Lord."

During the time Shen Li went to the market, Ruo Liuli had been in charge of Black Ridge City's security, which reassured Shen Li greatly.

"How have things been these past few days?"

Ruo Liuli thought for a moment and recounted everything in detail.

"Some Yao Beasts were stingy, but I sent them all away."

"It's just... the frequency has become a bit strange."

"What do you mean?"

"At first, they were just some cannon fodder Yao Beasts without intelligence. Gradually, there were Qi-drawing Yao Beasts, until three days ago, a Qi Refining First Layer Yao Beast appeared."

"It seems there's something amiss."

Shen Li nodded, took out the crossbows he had bought from the market from his Storage Pouch, and then said,

"Place them on the city walls, find people to learn how to use them, and the defense will be worry-free."

"Understood."

"Also... call all the martial artists to me."

"To master... the Dao of Soldiers."

"Become Yuting Guards!"