30: Shocking change!

Early the next morning.

Shen Li slowly finished his cultivation in the backyard.

Looking at the thriving sea buckthorn fruit and crescent moon rice in the Spiritual Field, his heart was filled with anticipation.

After Chen He finished watering, she pulled the old ox to prevent it from touching the Spiritual Field. Seeing Shen Li finish his cultivation, she respectfully said,

“Young Master, this crescent moon rice, will it be ready in about two months?”

Shen Li was stunned for a moment.

Originally, crescent moon rice needed a full six months to mature, even when planted in a Ninth Grade Spiritual Field. Why did it only need a short three months to ripen in this particular field?

Chen He explained,

“My family has been Spirit Farmers for generations. Besides the Hundred Farmers Qi Eating Secret Record, we also possess a method for loosening soil, a method for raising earthworms, and a method for fertilizing.”

“I can’t guarantee anything else, but for Ninth Grade crescent moon rice, accelerated growth is no problem.”

As expected of an old farmer, with family inheritance, he certainly knows a lot.

Shen Li nodded in satisfaction, then left the Spiritual Field.

Shen Li then arrived at the city gate.

At this moment, many commoners at the city gate had put down their farm work, their eyes filled with disbelief as they looked ahead!

Towering earthen city walls, approximately thirteen meters high, stood like monumental steles in the Yellow Sand Plains.

Then, with a tremor underfoot, another massive stele rose from the ground!

As mentioned before, Black Ridge City was surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only an open space at the city gate extending into the Yellow Sand Plains!

It was like a huge pouch; expanding outwards offered infinite possibilities!

Black Ridge City was too small; it needed to be expanded!

And now, the initial construction size of the outer city had been given to Sun Dashan.

The expansion of the outer city was roughly the limit covered by the Formation, which was indeed quite large.

At this time, Sun Dashan was busy working.

And these commoners watched curiously.

They had never seen an Immortal perform earth-moving techniques.

Shen Li walked forward. Sun Dashan, seeing Shen Li’s figure, wiped his sweat.

“City Lord.”

An honest person is just like this... always afraid that he hasn't done enough, or well enough.

Sun Dashan was precisely like that. He had been abandoned by the Wang family. Although he had found a new patron, he inevitably felt uneasy.

So he got up early to work and dared not be negligent in the slightest.

Although he was at the Qi Refining Third Layer, and outer martial artists and Mortals would call him an Immortal Master, he knew himself.

He was a shitty Immortal Master.

He had no master, achieving Qi Refining Third Layer in a daze.

The Qi absorption method he used was merely a common breathing technique.

He had no techniques, no means of offense or defense.

His Spiritual Power was useless, even inferior to a martial artist.

Fortunately, an old craftsman had taught him some skills, and learning this skill prevented him from starving.

Otherwise, he would truly have nowhere to cry.

Seeing this, Shen Li did not expose him but patted him on the shoulder.

“You’ve done well.”

Sun Dashan’s expression improved significantly. He nodded, then rested for a moment before continuing his work.

Afterward, Shen Li gave orders, and Black Ridge City began another round of construction, becoming bustling with activity.

Returning to the study, he found Wang Teng sprawled on his chair, his legs propped on the desk, dozing off.

Shen Li paid him no mind.

Instead, Qiu Ya sharpened her knife menacingly.

But upon hearing the sound of sharpening, he instantly leaped up.

He cowered against the wall like a worm.

“Don’t come over! Don’t you dare come over!”

Shen Li was amused.

A Grandmaster Realm dealing with an Early Stage Qi Refining Realm was simply effortless.

Although Qi Refining could use techniques, the speed of forming seals and outlining spell imprints was still too slow.

It was like a novice magician who needed to chant.

And his opponent happened to be a battle-hardened warrior + assassin; who wouldn't be afraid?

Furthermore, Wang Teng’s combat experience was truly mediocre; he only knew how to chant in place. After being disciplined by Qiu Ya, he was now very much afraid.

Shen Li clapped his hands and said,

“The two of us need to go out for a trip, and Black Ridge City will have to be entrusted to Brother Wang.”

“Where are you going? Why aren’t you taking me? I came to learn things, not to guard your door.”

“Isn’t Brother Wang learning things right now?”

Wang Teng frowned, his face still arrogant.

“Don’t fool me, what can I learn here?”

Shen Li smiled mysteriously.

“Brother Wang, there is no Spiritual Qi here, nor any Spiritual Veins. For now, Brother Wang should not rush to cultivate.”

“Just walk around, look around, and lend a hand.”

“You want me to work for you like those commoners?”

“It’s just a suggestion. If Brother Wang doesn’t want to, he doesn’t have to! Sleeping soundly at home is also an option.”

“That’s more like it.”

“Black Ridge City still needs Brother Wang’s protection.”

Wang Teng looked at Shen Li and felt much more pleased.

“Not bad, not bad, Little Shen, I approve of your attitude.”

Qiu Ya frowned and stepped forward slightly.

Wang Teng immediately said,

“Don’t worry, with me here, there’s nothing to fear!”

“As long as you give me distance and time, a Qi Refining Third Layer will also be my defeated opponent!”

Shen Li said nothing more and left with Qiu Ya, minding his own business.

This time, it was still just the two of them.

And a camel.

Meanwhile.

In the vast expanse of the Yellow Sand Plains.

A figure clad in a black robe, with an unidentifiable face, began to advance towards the Black Horn Gang's location.

Behind him followed dozens to hundreds of camels.

Each camel carried nothing, yet they struggled with every step!

Each camel had pitch-black chains bound to its body.

Even in the high temperatures of the Yellow Sand Plains, the chains still emitted cold Qi.

Clearly, these chains were very special!

And connected to the end of the chains were cold iron coffins, each as tall as a person.

From within the coffins, roars and frantic sounds continuously emanated!

The leader of the Sand Sea Gang, accompanied by dozens of gang members, arrived and met the black-robed figure on a towering sand dune.

Then, hundreds of bound commoners rapidly approached!

Upon reaching the figure, they dismounted, slid, and knelt in a single smooth motion.

“This humble one, Shabie, greets Immortal Master. Immortal Master must be weary from your journey!”

The black-robed figure slowly extended a hand, its back covered in lividity, with some white fuzz growing on it.

His fingernails were long, and there was a foul-smelling dirt underneath, as if he had just been dug out of the ground.

His voice was hoarse, hollow, not like that of a living person.

He grunted, then said,

“Is the blood sacrifice ready?”

“It’s ready!”

One by one, the Sand Sea Gang’s martial artists escorted the common Mortals to the cold coffins!

Their faces were terrifyingly indifferent.

They pressed their heads against the profound iron coffins, and amidst cries and pleas for mercy, the blades ruthlessly slit their throats!

Their bodies trembled and fell silent.

Then, the gushing blood flowed along the patterns of the cold iron coffin, converging into a crack.

From inside… came gurgling sounds.

Eerie and terrifying.

“Immortal Master?”

“It’s still not enough. We need five hundred more people to open the coffins.”

“There’s a sand market ahead. I will lead the Immortal Master there!”