Golden Crocodile Comes to Offer a Warning

"Brother Bai, don't spoil her too much, she'll go astray."

Looking at the little girl who had skipped and hopped to the side, and listening to her cheerful laughter, Zhao Shuran said with a hint of reproach.

"It's nothing. It only happens once or twice, it's nothing. By the way,"

Li Mubai turned his gaze back, glanced at the large wooden crates piled up in the corner, and then looked at Zhao Shuran, saying, "I probably won't be going home for lunch. Don't wait for me; I'm going to check out the east side of Spirit City later."

East of Spirit City, isn't that wasteland and farmland?

What's there to see?

Zhao Shuran very familiar with the eastern part of Spirit City, as that was where she came from.

Apart from some farmland and small hills, the rest of the place was overgrown wasteland with no scenery and no fertile land; it was a worthless place.

That's why Zhao Shuran had some doubts.

However, she didn't ask all her questions; instead, she kept them to herself.

Don't ask about things that others don't talk about.

If the other party wants to tell you, they will.

This was Zhao Shuran's code of conduct, so she simply nodded and hummed in response to Li Mubai's words.

But in an instant.

She glanced at the several boxes and gift sets on the floor and realized a new problem.

These boxes in front of you are priceless. It seems a bit inappropriate to just leave them in the corner. If you get robbed, you'll suffer a huge loss.

She understood.

When those guests arrived, they must have been carrying things into the house, which must have attracted a lot of attention. Even if those people didn't intend to steal, what if they had encountered a real thief?

Seeing the generous gifts, the recipient will surely come to patronize the store.

"These boxes are placed here?"

Looking at the glittering gold coins and the smooth, silvery pearls on the ground, Zhao Shuran's tone carried a hint of worry.

Li Mubai chuckled, "It's alright, it's fine to leave it here. Aren't you and Xiao Qian still at home? What thief would come knocking? Even if someone does try to steal it, we're not afraid. Xiao Qian will handle it."

Xiao Qian is Soul Master of several dozen levels; dealing with thieves who make a living by stealing should be a piece of cake for her, right?

However, Zhao Shuran unaware of these things.

Hearing Li Mubai's words, she assumed it was because he trusted her, which is why she dared to openly leave all the money and treasures there.

And so...

Zhao Shuran felt a surge of gratitude and secretly vowed that she would not let Li Mubai down. She would take good care of these things and not let them be lost in the slightest!

"Alright, I'm leaving now."

Li Mubai spoke, he headed towards the main gate, pushed open the wooden door, and leaped out, walking onto the street.

Good morning, Young Master Li.

Good morning, Mr. Li.

As soon as he stepped out of the house, many people on the street greeted Li Mubai with smiles.

These people would usually exchange greetings, but this time they were all smiles, perhaps because of the wealthy merchant Li Fengheng.

It is human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm.

Li Mubai responded to their smiles with smiles as well.

After all, it's always better to have one more friend than one more enemy, isn't it?

"Luckily, these people don't know my real identity, otherwise, I'd be getting visited every day, and I wouldn't be able to live like this."

Li Mubai sighed inwardly.

He quickly found a small shop and bought ink, paper, and pens there.

These are all essential for drawing planning maps.

Then.

Li Mubai found a horse-drawn carriage, told the driver his destination, got in, and waited quietly.

After all, he lived in the west of the city, which was quite a distance from the east side of Spirit City; it would take almost an hour to walk there.

Such a long distance naturally requires a horse-drawn carriage.

As for leaping forward?

You're overthinking it. Li Mubai isn't ready to become famous throughout the city.

That kind of life of sudden fame and global attention was not what he wanted.

Otherwise.

He wouldn't have diligently cultivated for twenty years; he would still remain unknown in the Soul Master World.

It wasn't until he became Titled Douluo and the new elder of the Spirit Hall, after the Battle of the Two Titled Douluo, that his name began to spread and become famous in the Soul Master World.

Only.

His identity remains a mystery to many.

Because he disguised himself during the Battle of the Twin Peaks!

That's right.

He made some cosmetic enhancements to his face at the time.

Those who know him well will still recognize him, while those who don't might find Li Mubai's face very familiar, but they definitely won't recognize him.

Li Fengheng is a good example.

When he was buying the house, he felt a wave of familiarity wash over him when he saw Li Mubai. However, he still couldn't recognize Li Mubai he visited him the next day.

The carriage bumped and jolted along the cobblestone streets.

This completely dispelled Li Mubai's desire to close his eyes and pretend to doze off.

No way.

Li Mubai could only sit by the window of the carriage, lift the rough curtain, and look out at the pedestrians on the street and the lively atmosphere of the vendors.

The eastern Spirit City is generally more prosperous than the western part of the city where Li Mubai lives.

Even the houses lining the streets were extremely magnificent.

The streets were crowded with pedestrians, who were dressed in fine and beautiful clothes, creating a stark contrast with the clothing worn by pedestrians in the western part of the city.

"The eastern part of the city is indeed a prosperous place. If the wasteland east of Spirit City were developed into a new urban area, it would definitely attract a large number of people. This would further boost Spirit City's economy, Bibi Dong would certainly give me a raise!"

Li Mubai smiled.

As time passed, the bumpy carriage suddenly came to a stop.

"Sir, we have arrived at our destination."

The driver lifted the curtain and said in a gentle voice.

Li Mubai nodded, bowed slightly, and stepped out of the carriage. After standing still, he took out a silver coin.

"Sir, this is too big, I can't make change."

The cart driver's white goatee trembled slightly, his voice tinged with excitement.

He has been working as a cart driver for some time now.

Occasionally, you'll encounter big spenders who throw away a lot of money during a short trip.

One silver coin is worth one hundred copper coins.

The journey from the west of the city to this wasteland in the east would only cost thirty-four copper coins.

The driver seemed somewhat agitated.

It was because he had already regarded Li Mubai as a wealthy patron who would spend lavishly, and such a patron would usually not care about such money.

That's why he said he couldn't find the solution.

Could a mere cart driver really not have enough change for a single silver coin?

Of course not.

He said this intentionally, betting that the other party wouldn't mind. In this way, he could earn more money.

"If you can't make change, that's fine. You can go back."

Li Mubai waved his hand dismissively, not caring about the few dozen copper coins.

Did he really not understand what the cart driver meant?

Of course not.

If Li Fengheng hadn't sent that box of gold coins, but instead a box of valuable East Sea pearls and several other precious items, he would definitely have been very concerned about those few dozen copper coins.

But things are different now.

The thought of the mountain of wealth piled up in his home made Li Mubai feel a little smug.

A few dozen copper coins? What's the big deal?

I've got plenty of money now!

Today, I'm going to be extravagant for once!!

Hearing the sound.

The cart driver, with his goatee and wrinkled face, suddenly brightened up, his face beaming with delight. "Thank you, young master! Your generosity brings you good fortune year after year, peace in all directions, and harmony and prosperity in your family."

Hearing these words of praise, Li Mubai felt extremely pleased.

It's so nice to be rich! The people you meet are all so nice to talk to, and they're all so talented. I love it!

Feeling lightheaded, Li Mubai walked briskly toward the nearest small hill.

This wasteland is mostly plains.

However, the ground is covered with strange rocks, so no one cultivates it. Apart from a patch of weeds half a meter high, only a few crooked trees grow sparsely on the small hill.

The tree is neither tall nor wide, and its shape is slender like bamboo.

Obviously.

This is because she has not received enough nutrition for a long time, which is why she has become so slender and thin.

Upon reaching the top of the hill and looking around, all I could see was overgrown weeds and wild grass. This kind of land couldn't produce any crops at all; it was completely useless!

"As expected of a notoriously barren land, it is utterly infertile."

As the whispers faded, the young man suddenly smiled, "But it doesn't matter. Starting today, this place will undergo earth-shattering changes. From then on, people will flock here like moths to a flame!"

"Elder Li has quite the arrogance."

A voice suddenly came from not far away.

Li Mubai then looked in that direction.

As soon as they saw a thicket of reeds taller than a person, a figure leaped out. The person was dressed in brocade, and the hem of the long robe swayed with each step. The half-meter-high weeds were trampled and crushed by the person, making a rustling sound.

The newcomer had white hair and a faint smile on his face.

That's right.

Worshipper Golden Crocodile!

What brings this old man here?

Looking at the Golden Crocodile that leaped up and appeared in front of him, Li Mubai was filled with doubt.

"Elder Li, how have you been?" Golden Crocodile smiled and walked a few steps to Li Mubai's side.

Li Mubai folded up the blank sheet of Xuan paper he had unfolded, turned to look at the Golden Crocodile, and laughed, "I'm perfectly fine, but the Worshipper Golden Crocodile has aged quite a bit!"

The Golden Crocodile that suddenly appeared in this place.

Li Mubai didn't believe this was a chance encounter; the other person being here and calling out to him directly must have been premeditated.

As for what it is, we don't know yet.

"Yes, sometimes you have to admit you're getting old! Like a river flowing eastward to the sea, it may have the ambition to reach the ocean, but its journey is slow and arduous. When it finally reaches the estuary, it suddenly finds that it no longer has the passion it once had. After being tempered and refined, all that remains is a calm and gentle flow."

The Golden Crocodile looked utterly disappointed.

Seeing that the other party had no intention of arguing at all, this was somewhat unexpected for Li Mubai.

"Why are you having regrets about life? That's not like you."

Li Mubai rolled the Xuan paper into a ball and held it in his hand.

Although he was speaking, his eyes were not fixed on the Golden Crocodile, but rather he was surveying his surroundings, looking around at the desolate wilderness.

He is planning the optimal development solution in his mind.

Why do you always talk with such a fiery tone?

Golden Crocodile frowned slightly and guessed:

"Are you still holding a grudge about that incident from before?"

"So you knew that what you did was wrong! I thought you were completely unaware."

Li Mingbo glanced sideways at the Golden Crocodile, rolled his eyes at it, and then continued to gaze down at the hill below.

His mind was racing, constantly processing the scenarios.

The wasteland before Li Mubai began to change. The weeds disappeared, replaced by towering buildings and wide, generous avenues that crisscrossed among the tall buildings.

After only a short period of planning, the optimal layout of the new urban area was already clearly presented in Li Mubai's mind.

Just as Li Mubai was pondering...

Golden Crocodile simply stood quietly behind Li Mubai, without uttering a single word in reply.

He noticed that Li Mubai was deep in thought, so he refrained from disturbing him.

A long time.

After Li Mubai unfolded the thick sheet of Xuan paper in his hand again...

Golden Crocodile then said, "Elder Li believes there is potential for development here?"

Li Mubai, who was about to draw out the plan in his mind, paused upon hearing this, staring at Golden Crocodile with some surprise. "Do you know what I'm going to do?"

"Of course I know. The population of Spirit City has increased significantly recently. Such a good opportunity cannot be missed. And the only way to keep these people here is to build a new urban area."

Golden Crocodile looked like he had everything under control, as if he were strategizing and planning.

"Your Worship Hall is certainly well-informed."

Li Mubai scoffed and began to draw his plan on a large, flat rock protruding from the mountaintop.

"That's natural."

Golden Crocodile nodded, affirming Li Mubai's words. Then he looked at Li Mubai's hand, which was constantly moving the brush across the rice paper.

"This wasteland, though flat, lacks any rivers for transportation. Using livestock like cattle and horses as transport would be prohibitively expensive. A new city built under such circumstances would cost an astronomical sum, not to mention the prospect of selling it for profit. No one would be willing to buy the houses. The Spirit Hall's entire investment in building the new city would be wasted, resulting in severe losses."

The Golden Crocodile continued to express his own opinions.

Wrong.

Li Mubai ignored Golden Crocodile's words in the slightest, and instead continued to draw the plans in his mind onto the rice paper.

After a while.

Mission accomplished!

Looking at the densely packed patterns on the rice paper, a smile appeared on Li Mubai's face.

After rolling up the Xuan paper and putting it away, he turned to look at the Golden Crocodile and laughed, scolding, "Foolish!"

"Why are you cursing? Am I wrong in my analysis? Young people should listen to advice, or you'll regret it later."

Golden Crocodile frowned, but did not immediately lose his temper.

He greatly admired the young man before him and didn't want him to go astray.

If Bibi Dong approves of this plan and Xincheng proceeds with construction according to it, resulting in losses for the Spirit Hall, Li Mubai will inevitably be ostracized by the other members of the Worship Hall, who will then use this as a pretext to force Bibi Dong to marginalize him.

This is not what he wanted to see.

"Are you stupid? Why does the Spirit Hall have to fund the construction of a new city?"

Li Mubai ignored Golden Crocodile's advice, instead turning back to mock him before heading down the mountain alone.