49: Land reclamation

The quiet cultivation over the past half month allowed the progress of his Realm to increase from 2/100 to 6/100.

At this rate, in at most a little over a year, he would be able to reach the Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level and become a Cultivator in the Late Stage.

The proficiency of his Alchemy and spells also grew, but as his Alchemy proficiency became higher and higher, the rate of growth began to slow down.

Especially for the spells and Cultivation Techniques that had reached the Grandmaster Level, the rate of growth was extremely slow.

The time required for a Breakthrough had increased significantly.

The entire Xiaoyao Sect had been busy with the relocation of the Sect.

In half a month, basically all the Inner Sect Disciples, Core Disciples, and Foundation Establishment Elders had already moved over.

Only the Outer Sect Disciples and Utility Disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect had not yet fully moved over.

As the Xiaoyao Sect Disciples kept moving over, there were more and more Cultivators within the Sect, and the area for Outer Sect Disciples and Utility Disciples began to become chaotic again.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

"Brother Zhang, are you home?"

After knocking on the courtyard gate a few times, Luo Fei called out into the courtyard.

"I'm home!"

Zhou Yun happened to be in the courtyard and quickly opened the gate.

"Sister-in-law, is Brother Zhang still cultivating?"

Luo Fei entered the courtyard and asked respectfully.

"You came at just the right time; he just finished cultivating."

Zhang Qingxiao walked out of the cultivation room and asked with a smile, "Did you manage to find out any news?"

These past few days, Luo Fei had sent people through various channels to inquire about the situation of the various factions among the Xiaoyao Sect Outer Sect Disciples. Although progress was quite slow, it was not without any results.

"Brother Zhang, I just heard a piece of news."

"The Xiaoyao Sect is going to build a city in the area where the Utility Disciples live."

"Next, those of us who are Outer Sect Disciples and Utility Disciples will likely be sent to open up wasteland."

"This is a tough job, and it also carries a certain amount of danger."

After receiving this news, Luo Fei was somewhat worried, so he came to Zhang Qingxiao's place and quickly recounted the matter.

"Opening up wasteland again?"

"How big of a city are they planning to build?"

"Is the news accurate?"

Hearing this news, Zhang Qingxiao was also stunned.

The area where the Chang Sheng Sect Utility Disciples originally lived was not small; it was enough to build a small city capable of accommodating hundreds of thousands of people.

And the Xiaoyao Sect Utility Disciples, plus the original Chang Sheng Sect Utility Disciples, would at most not exceed three hundred thousand people.

There was absolutely no need to open up more wasteland to create a larger territory.

Could it be that the Xiaoyao Sect even intends to move ordinary people over to open up wasteland for planting?

"I am not very clear about how big of a city they want to build."

"But the matter of opening up wasteland has basically been decided; it's just that the Sect Leader of Carefree Sect hasn't announced it yet."

"I estimate they are waiting for all the original Xiaoyao Sect Outer Sect Disciples and Utility Disciples to move over before making unified arrangements."

Luo Fei heard about this from an Outer Sect Disciple at the Mission Hall today, but the specific details were not clear even to the Outer Sect Disciple he knew at the Mission Hall.

"If we must open up wasteland, then so be it. It's impossible that they would only make us Outer Sect Disciples do the work during the process."

"There are still Tier 2 Yao Beasts in the wilderness, so there will definitely be Foundation Establishment Elders leading the way."

"We just need to make preparations in advance."

Zhang Qingxiao thought for a moment and analyzed that this matter was not that dangerous.

At most, they, these Outer Sect Disciples and Utility Disciples, would just be doing some manual labor.

The Sect wouldn't force them, these Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators, to deal with Tier 2 Yao Beasts.

"Then I will go and prepare now."

"In the past two days, I noticed that the prices of Talismans and Magical Artifacts in the market have started to rise, which might be related to the opening up of the wasteland."

During this time, whenever Luo Fei had time, he would go to the market, so he was very familiar with the fluctuations in item prices.

"Then go and prepare the Magical Artifacts and Talismans as soon as possible."

"It just so happens that I have some Medicinal Pills here; you take them and sell them for me, and see if you can buy some Tier 2 defensive Talismans."

As Zhang Qingxiao spoke, he took out three jade bottles from a Storage Pouch; inside were the Pi Gu Pills, Yellow Dragon Pills, and Golden Marrow Pills.

The area where the Outer Sect Disciples lived also had a corresponding market; apart from some special items, the common Magical Artifacts, Talismans, and Medicinal Pills were basically the same as those in the market in the Utility Disciples' residential area.

"Brother Zhang, I almost forgot one thing."

"A small auction will be held in the market in three days. Brother Zhang, are you going to attend?"

Luo Fei slapped his forehead in annoyance.

"I'm not going; I don't lack anything right now."

Zhang Qingxiao shook his head. He roughly knew some information about the auctions in the Outer Sect Disciple market.

Most of the things auctioned were some surpassing ordinary Magical Artifacts, Flying Swords, special Medicinal Pills, spiritual objects, and the like.

Given his current Realm, he couldn't use them at all.

Going there might also attract trouble; it would be better to stay home and focus on cultivating, waiting until his Realm breaks through to the Late Stage of Qi Refining.

"Alright, then I'll go prepare first."

Seeing that Zhang Qingxiao was not interested in the auction, Luo Fei didn't say anything more.

After returning, he started preparing to buy Magical Artifacts and Talismans, and to sell the Medicinal Pills.

Over the next few days, all the Outer Sect Disciples and Utility Disciples basically learned the news that the Sect was going to open up wasteland.

The prices of Magical Artifacts and Talismans also rose accordingly.

Especially the prices of Body Protection Talismans, Golden Light Talismans, and Light Body Talismans, which basically rose by more than double.

Besides that, the price of low-grade Detoxification Pills was even more outrageous; originally, one could be bought for one Low-Grade Spirit Stone, but now it had risen to ten Spirit Stones each.

But even at such a high price, it was still in short supply.

Opening up wasteland was still very dangerous for many low-level Cultivators.

Especially the many poisonous insects in the wilderness, which were even more fatal.

Without taking a Detoxification Pill in advance, Cultivators below Cultivation Level 4, once bitten by a poisonous insect, basically had no chance of survival.

Learning that the price of Detoxification Pills had risen, Zhang Qingxiao asked Luo Fei to help him buy the Pill Formula for refining Detoxification Pills, as well as the medicinal materials.

He had Alchemy experience, and refining Detoxification Pills was not complex. After two days of effort, Zhang Qingxiao learned to refine Detoxification Pills.

Over the next few days, he kept refining Detoxification Pills continuously. Basically, he could refine more than ten Detoxification Pills every day. After deducting costs, he could earn eighty or ninety Low-Grade Spirit Stones every day.

A few days later, all the Outer Sect Disciples and Utility Disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect had moved over.

Immediately after, the Sect Leader of Carefree Sect issued the order to open up the wasteland.

Ten Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators were to lead the Inner Sect Disciples, Outer Sect Disciples, and Utility Disciples to carry out the opening up of the wasteland.

Zhang Qingxiao learned that the Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator would also participate in this wasteland opening. Not long after the Sect Leader of Carefree Sect issued the order, he visited the Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The next day, he brought Luo Fei and the others, as well as Zhou Yun, Liang Qiaoer, and Zhou Quan, to follow in the wasteland opening team led by the Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator.

With the care of the Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator, they did not have to be on the front lines.

Instead, they were in the rear, using special Magical Artifacts to carry out cleanup work.

The area the Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator was responsible for was exactly on the outskirts of the area where Zhang Qingxiao and the others had previously lived as Utility Disciples.

Zhang Qingxiao was very familiar with this place; following behind the main team, he chatted and laughed with Luo Fei, Zhou Yun, and the others.