98: Chapter 98 Purchasing Slaves

Zhang Yuxi felt a slight tremor in her chest. Looking at the resourceful and composed young man before her, and gazing out at this brand-new world that now belonged to her, the fighting spirit that had long been dormant in her heart ignited into a roaring flame.

She lowered her dress, bowed deeply, and said with a firm and resonant tone: "Rest assured, Husband! Yuxi will certainly not fail your trust. I will manage Xuanling Lake properly and forge an invincible Spirit Beast army, becoming the sharpest and most reliable blade in your hands!"

Night fell.

With a thought, Li Changqing activated the myriad worlds disk. His figure instantly crossed between the two worlds, vanishing from the Cultivation World's Xuanling Island and reappearing in the apocalyptic Changqing City in an instant.

It was daytime in Changqing City, with bright sunlight filling the air. Within the city, order reigned; everyone performed their duties, and the reconstruction and development work proceeded methodically, presenting a thriving and prosperous scene.

He immediately summoned the core personnel of the city to hear reports on recent municipal affairs.

During this period, Changqing City had not expanded its population significantly, having only steadily absorbed over two hundred Evolvers with decent Aptitude. The Foundation construction project for the outer city walls had already fully commenced.

Li Changqing had never intended to vie for hegemony or carve out territory in this apocalyptic world. All he sought was a stable foothold to safely scavenge for resources and nourish his own cultivation.

After listening to the detailed reports from Captain Xia Dong and the others, he finalized the arrangements for each municipal task one by one and learned the exact opening date of the next Sky Dome Tower. Then, with a flash, he returned to Xuanling Lake.

Morning mist swirled like thin gauze, quietly enveloping Xuanling Lake.

The morning sun rose slowly from the horizon, casting golden radiance upon the lake surface. The shimmering water reflected the silhouette of the rising sun, and the entire world felt tranquil and distant, exuding an unfathomable, serene atmosphere.

A low, deep rumble came from the sky—not the sound of thunder, but the resonance caused by Qi agitating the air. Clouds surged, and a massive flying boat broke through the clouds. The hull of the flying boat was covered in complex defensive Formation runes, shimmering with a cold, metallic luster under the sunlight.

This was a first-class caravan from the Tianyuan Chamber of Commerce, a super-chamber of commerce from the Tianling Continent.

The flying boat slowly descended and finally hovered above a piece of wasteland near Xuanling Lake. As the inner cabin door of the flying boat opened, a figure walked out slowly.

This person appeared to be around forty years old, with a refined and scholarly face and a smile that always made one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze. He wore a deep blue robe embroidered with golden abacus patterns, and hanging from his waist was a warm, jade-like token clearly inscribed with the characters for "Deacon."

He was Zhao Yuanzhi, a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator and a first-class deacon of the Tianyuan Chamber of Commerce in the southeastern region of Huangfeng Prefecture.

Zhao Yuanzhi did not land immediately. Instead, he stood at the edge of the flying boat, his gaze sweeping over Xuanling Lake ahead. His Divine Sense spread out like a tide, but he keenly detected a trace of abnormality upon touching the lake surface. Beneath the water, a powerful Yao Beast aura seemed to be hidden, which caused him a slight start.

However, he remained composed, merely raising his hand slightly to signal his attendants behind him to prepare for the transaction.

Inside Xuanling Island, Li Changqing, who had long been prepared, flashed and turned into a streak of light, appearing instantly before Deacon Zhao.

He cupped his hands in a salute, his movements standard and elegant, without a single flaw: "Deacon Zhao, I have long admired your reputation. Seeing you today, you truly possess an extraordinary demeanor."

Zhao Yuanzhi smiled slightly and returned the salute: "Fellow Daoist Li is too polite. Regarding the five hundred Mortal slaves that Fellow Daoist Li ordered through our channels last time, I have come today to fulfill the transaction. I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long."

Zhao Yuanzhi laughed heartily and waved his hand to signal the guards to slowly unfold the decks on both sides of the flying boat. One after another, small, youthful figures were led out in an orderly fashion, lining up neatly and landing without a sound.

A full five hundred children stood in Formation on the open ground by the lake. These children were all between eight and ten years old, dressed in clean and tidy clothes, clearly having been well cared for along the way, with no signs of hunger or wretchedness.

Most of them had fair complexions and youthful features, their eyes hiding an lingering innocence and timidity. A few had a trace of fear in their eyes, yet not one dared to cry out or make a noise.

The Tianyuan Chamber of Commerce exercised extremely strict control. Since the time these children were selected and transported, their wildness had been extinguished, and they knew that obedience was their only path to survival.

Just as Li Changqing had requested, all five hundred were Mortals without Spiritual Roots. They had clean backgrounds, no ties to any Sect or Family, and no roots or supports. From this moment on, their lives and deaths would be entirely under Li Changqing's control.

The five hundred people stood in a uniform Formation, filling the open space by the lake, so quiet that only the sound of faint breathing remained. The scene was silent, yet it carried an unnerving sense of oppression.

Li Changqing walked slowly into the ranks. His gaze swept slowly over every youthful face, and his Divine Sense probed carefully, verifying the health of each child one by one. All met the agreed-upon criteria; there was no intentional deception or passing off inferior goods as superior.

A moment later, Li Changqing withdrew his Divine Sense, stopped, and turned around. He looked at Zhao Yuanzhi, who was waiting quietly not far away, and nodded slightly: "Deacon Zhao, the number is correct, and they meet my requirements."

Upon hearing this, a faint smile flashed across Zhao Yuanzhi's face, and he said calmly: "Fellow Daoist Li, rest assured. Our Tianyuan Chamber of Commerce has been established in the Cultivation World for tens of thousands of years. We keep our word; once a transaction is set, there will never be any mistakes."

"These five hundred children were selected according to high standards regarding quality and age. They have no disabilities, no underlying illnesses, and no entanglements. Once you accept them, Fellow Daoist, you may use them as you please."

After speaking, he raised his hand and took out a stack of jet-black jade booklets, pushing them through the air toward Li Changqing: "This contains the slave contracts and identity registers for the five hundred children, as well as our Chamber of Commerce's exclusive Spirit-Sealing Mark."

"They are registered in the booklet, and all the children's worldly Karma has been severed. From now on, they are detached from the Mortal world. In this world, there is no longer any household register or clan for them; there is only their master, and no former self."

"With this proof, no one can trace their origins, whether inside or outside the Juxing Domain or in the territories of various provinces. It will eliminate all potential troubles for you, Fellow Daoist."

Li Changqing raised his hand to catch the cold black jade booklet, his fingertips brushing over the dense seal script on it, his eyes devoid of ripples.

The path of immortality is inherently one of defying Heaven to seize fortune; it is cruel and ruthless.

Mortals are weak, and by nature, they are but ants and dust in the great world. Falling into slavery due to natural or man-made disasters is simply a matter of bad luck. Without talent for cultivation, they are destined to live a mediocre life, trapped in the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death of the Mortal realm.

Being bought by him and gaining the ability to survive by attaching themselves to a Cultivator might not be such a bad path for them.

For Li Changqing, these five hundred people were the Foundation and resources for his future initial layout of land reclamation, Spirit Medicine cultivation, land restoration, Spirit Beast breeding, and the training of Martial Artists.

On the path of immortality, it is difficult to travel far alone; the immortal enterprise requires thousands to lay the Foundation.

The benevolence of the weak is worthless; the iron-fisted nature of the strong is the true Righteous Path.

After confirming everything was correct, Li Changqing nodded slightly and waved his hand. A small Storage Pouch flew through the air and landed in front of Zhao Yuanzhi.

"Deacon, you may count the Spirit Stones."

Zhao Yuanzhi reached out for the Storage Pouch, swept it with his Divine Sense, and instantly determined the amount within. It was exactly one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, not a single bit less, which was precisely the agreed-upon price for the five hundred young slaves.