61: Chapter 61. Giant Stone City is renamed Xuan Yang City, and Xuan Yang City is expanded.

"Yes, Immortal King!"

Immortal Lord Feng Lei responded with a respectful expression, then continued to recount the reason they had come to seek refuge with him.

As it turned out, the Human Race's situation in the Southwest Immortal Desert was extremely difficult. In the past, Senior Wu Yang and Tian Wu were both powerhouses among Half-step Immortal Kings, but they did not get along and were often at odds.

However, when Immortal King Tian Wu successfully achieved a Breakthrough to the Immortal King Realm, Senior Wu Yang had no choice but to serve under him. Shortly after, Senior Wu Yang was sent out to battle and never returned.

It was not just the Human Race; in fact, the Half-step Immortal Kings of other races had also died in battle. Perhaps because of the previous rivalry between Senior Wu Yang and Immortal King Tian Wu, Immortal King Tian Wu was not friendly toward the Human Race.

Now, the Human Race only had him left as a Peak Immortal Lord, while the other two had mysteriously disappeared.

Finally, Immortal Lord Feng Lei stated that their coming to seek refuge with Cao Yang this time was a gamble. Rather than waiting for death, it was better to take a chance.

"This Immortal King Tian Wu is too narrow-minded and vindictive, taking his anger out on innocent people," Second Senior Sister Su Xuan said very angrily.

Her voice carried a hint of rage and dissatisfaction; she was clearly very indignant and incensed by Immortal King Tian Wu's behavior.

After hearing this, Cao Yang nodded slightly in agreement. However, he was not as emotional as his Second Senior Sister; instead, he calmly considered the reasons behind it. After a moment, he spoke, "Is that the only reason?"

At this, Feng Lei hesitated, seemingly finding it difficult to speak. Eventually, he made up his mind and said, "Actually, another reason is that resources in the Southwest Immortal Desert are scarce, only enough to sustain one Immortal King's Cultivation. Therefore, once anyone achieves a Breakthrough to the Half-step Immortal King, they will mysteriously disappear shortly after." His voice revealed a sense of helplessness and sorrow, as if he had already become accustomed to this cruel reality.

Immortal Lord Feng Lei paused and continued, "Although we are still a hundred and eight thousand miles away from a Breakthrough to Half-step Immortal King, most people still hold onto hope. They hope that one day they can break through their limits and become true Immortal Kings. But now, because of Immortal King Tian Wu's existence, that hope has become slim." A glint of despair and sadness flickered in his eyes, making one feel moved.

Hearing this, Cao Yang frowned and fell into deep thought. He realized that his appearance might break this status quo and trigger Immortal King Tian Wu's vigilance and hostility. After all, the birth of a new Immortal King meant that resources originally enjoyed by one person alone now had to be fought for. To the original Immortal King, this was undoubtedly the greatest threat.

After a while, Cao Yang looked up at the ten people and asked, "From what you're saying, Immortal King Tian Wu won't allow me to exist in the Southwest Immortal Desert?" His tone was calm, and his eyes showed indifference and nonchalance.

Immortal Lord Feng Lei nodded and said, "Yes, Immortal King. Based on my understanding of Immortal King Tian Wu, he will not allow a second Immortal King to exist. Especially a young Immortal King like yourself; it will make him even more uneasy." His voice was full of worry and helplessness, as if he had already foreseen future conflicts and crises.

Although they could not tell Cao Yang's age, they could sense that he was very young.

"Hmm, aren't you afraid that I won't be a match for Immortal King Tian Wu? After all, I've just had a Breakthrough to Immortal King. Furthermore, aren't you worried that in the future, I also won't allow any Half-step Immortal Kings to exist in the Southwest Immortal Desert?" Cao Yang said with a smile.

This time, Immortal Lord Qin Feng, who was beside Immortal Lord Feng Lei, also spoke up: "Immortal King, we have already discussed this. We will wait for you to achieve a Breakthrough to the Immortal Emperor Realm before we attempt a Breakthrough to the Half-step Immortal King Realm, or perhaps you could simply allow us to leave the Southwest Immortal Desert in the future."

"Well, you certainly have thought it through. From what you've said, given Immortal King Tian Wu's personality, it's indeed very likely he won't allow you to leave the Southwest Immortal Desert." Cao Yang understood now; they had become laborers in Immortal King Tian Wu's backyard, the kind that could be slaughtered at any time.

"It's not impossible for me to protect you, but you'll have to pay a price," Cao Yang said after some thought.

"Please speak, Immortal King. As long as you are willing to protect us, we are willing to accept any conditions," Immortal Lord Feng Lei said sincerely.

Hearing this, Cao Yang's heart stirred as an idea came to him. He slowly said, "It's not a major condition. You only need to serve under me for a thousand years. During this period, you must obey my orders unconditionally. After a thousand years, you will regain your freedom."

"Is that the only condition? Immortal King!" Qin Feng asked excitedly.

For them, a single session of secluded meditation could last more than a thousand years, so this condition was simply too easy.

The other nine people also appeared very excited.

"Yes, only a thousand years. But during these thousand years, you cannot spend more than a century in seclusion, and you must be ready to follow my instructions at all times." Cao Yang nodded and said.

"Immortal King, your condition is simply too easy; we are all willing to accept it." Immortal Lord Feng Lei said excitedly, as if afraid Cao Yang would change his mind.

"Good. Since that's the case, I will give you your first task now," Cao Yang said, standing up.

The ten people also stood up one after another and bowed to Cao Yang, saying, "Please give us your instructions, Immortal King."

"Uncle, how about renaming Giant Stone City to Xuanyang City from now on?" Cao Yang looked at Xu Buli, who was standing to his right, and said.

Actually, there were seats in the main hall, but Xu Buli was unwilling to sit, instead choosing to stand obediently to Cao Yang's right.

"Everything shall be as the Immortal King commands," Xu Buli quickly replied.

"Good. In that case, Giant Stone City will be renamed Xuanyang City from now on." Cao Yang nodded with satisfaction.

Cao Yang decided to expand the boundaries of Xuanyang City to the surrounding twenty million miles.

Next, Cao Yang made a series of arrangements and deployments.

Immortal Lord Feng Lei and the others were responsible for integrating all towns within a hundred billion miles of Xuanyang City.

Each of the five Immortal Lords would lead some manpower to guard the four directions and the gates of the outer city.

Among them, the central area of ten billion miles was designated as the inner city. Without being summoned, no one above the Golden Immortal Realm was allowed to enter the inner city without authorization. If there were major events to report, they had to send someone ahead and could only enter the inner city after obtaining Cao Yang's consent.

The area of fifty billion miles to the northwest was planned as the outer city. Immortal Lord Feng Lei would temporarily serve as the administrator of the outer city, responsible for all its affairs.

The area of ten billion miles to the south would be guarded by Immortal Lord Qin Feng.

As for the areas to the east, west, and north, they would be guarded by the remaining three Immortal Lords and their men. The last Immortal Lord would assist Immortal Lord Feng Lei in managing the outer city, serving as mobile personnel who could be flexibly deployed according to the situation.

Cao Yang also required them to bring their former subordinates to the areas they were responsible for to be at their disposal.

Their relatives were all required to be settled in the outer city area, five hundred million miles away from the inner city.

Cao Yang watched the departing figures of several Immortal Lords, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

In fact, Cao Yang had already exchanged more than a hundred God-Devouring Golden Gu in the System space and silently planted them in the true spirits of all the Immortal Lords and Golden Immortals. Unless their Realm surpassed the Immortal Emperor level, no one would be able to discover them, and even if they did, they would be hard to remove.

These God-Devouring Golden Gu only followed the master's orders. As long as no command was triggered, they had no effect on the person they were planted in.

The instruction Cao Yang gave was: "No disadvantageous actions against anything that has a 'good' relationship with Cao Yang!"

"Good" refers to sentient beings whose favorability toward Cao Yang reaches 75 or higher; for non-living things, it refers to everything beneficial to Cao Yang.

"Disadvantageous" means that they cannot even have disadvantageous thoughts.

...