Permanent Residency in the Blessed Land

At Manager Song's question, Cheng Xiurui took a deep breath.

"Our Ox Ridge Settlement is separated from the Blessed Land by the White Wave River. While crossing, we ran into a mid-stage Qi Refining Realm Water Origin Turtle migrating with its group.

"Although I did everything I could to hold it back, it still gathered a Water Dragon and swept away part of the bridge, sending eighty-seven people into the river. The remaining six hundred and forty-five are all here.

"And three hundred and thirty-nine people have chosen to stay behind at the settlement."

"To have saved so many people in the face of a mid-stage Qi Refining Realm Water Origin Turtle, you did well."

Manager Song looked at Cheng Xiurui with some surprise. The Water Origin Turtle might sound like a harmless herbivore, but in truth, this Demonic Beast was a tyrant in the water, relying on its thick defenses and proving extremely ferocious.

Only when it was full did the Water Origin Turtle show its "gentle" side.

And that was only if you didn't provoke it.

Manager Song knew the Water Origin Turtle's habits. Looking at how many people remained from Ox Ridge Settlement, he could naturally guess how Cheng Xiurui had held it back. That only made him think more highly of Cheng Xiurui.

When facing danger, courage was certainly important, but a cool head was just as essential.

And being afraid of death wasn't a problem, as long as you didn't do anything stupid.

Being afraid of death while worrying about your pride and attacking the Water Origin Turtle from a distance—that was truly foolish beyond measure.

If Cheng Xiurui had really done that earlier, then...

Manager Song glanced at the many ordinary people before him, several of whom looked indignant, and gave a cold laugh.

So what if Cheng Xiurui hadn't done anything stupid? Even if he had, what of it?

At most, he would lose the chance to oversee Ox Ridge Settlement and have to pay a fine in Spirit Stones.

A more severe punishment would simply be compulsory membership in the Disaster Season Guard.

Did they expect the Blessed Land to execute a Qi Refining Realm cultivator over such a minor offense?

If it did, how could the dignity of cultivators be upheld?

Ordinary people could be regarded as the Blessed Land's wealth, but cultivators were indispensable to it.

If the Insect Race really laid siege, would they expect ordinary people to defend the Blessed Land?

Over the past three thousand years, plenty of Blessed Lands had been surrounded and overrun by the Insect Race. One or two fell every year.

This year was even more perilous than usual, and the Blessed Lands had no choice but to make extensive preparations.

"Manager Song, you flatter me. As the settlement's guardian, this was my duty."

Cheng Xiurui answered humbly.

When the Water Origin Turtle appeared earlier, he hadn't tried to stop it, much less rescue the people on the bridge. He had indeed been afraid of death, but he had also understood the turtle's habits and wanted to avoid provoking it.

In truth, judging by the outcome, he hadn't done anything wrong.

The deaths could only be blamed on bad luck. There had been nothing he could do.

He had noticed the resentment of some people from the settlement, but he couldn't be bothered to take it seriously.

"Mm. This year, the people from Ox Ridge Settlement will be assigned housing in Area D of the North District. Here's a Jade Token. Take it there, and someone will arrange things for you. I don't think I need to repeat the rules for entering the Blessed Land."

Manager Song said no more. He took out a Jade Token and carved the words "Ox Ridge" onto it, followed underneath by the smaller words "North District" and "D."

"Thank you, Manager Song. I'll have someone lead them over."

Cheng Xiurui took the Jade Token.

"Good. When you have some free time, Brother Cheng, you should come by my residence."

With the official business settled, Manager Song changed how he addressed him, his words carrying a hint of an attempt to win him over.

"Certainly."

Cheng Xiurui showed just the right amount of delight.

After Manager Song left, he casually tossed the Jade Token to the subordinate who had explained things to him along the way.

"Old Lu, I'll leave the rest to you."

"Rest assured, sir. I'll make all the arrangements."

Cheng Lu replied respectfully.

Cheng Xiurui didn't linger. Now that he was in the Blessed Land, he was practically at his own doorstep.

The people from the settlement still had to wait in line to pay their Spirit Stones, but as a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, he already had permanent residency in the Blessed Land. Besides, his home was right there.

The Cheng Family was a small household only in comparison with the Foundation Building Families and the late-stage Qi Refining families in the Blessed Land. Compared with the Zhou Family, it naturally fell far short.

A small family like the Zhou Family, which had come from a settlement, could only secure a permanent residency allotment for the Qi Refining Realm cultivator it had raised, even after supplying him with everything he needed. It couldn't move the entire family into the Blessed Land.

The first thing you needed to settle your family in the Blessed Land was a residence.

As a small Blessed Land, New Moon Blessed Land wasn't large to begin with. In such circumstances, even saying that every inch of land was worth its weight in gold didn't do it justice.

Securing a residence in the Blessed Land was even harder than raising a Qi Refining Realm cultivator.

The Cheng Family had followed the Song Family in opening up the Blessed Land and had been among the earliest pioneers. That was why they enjoyed this privilege.

Qi Refining Realm cultivators who had only secured residency for themselves could be assigned a decent little courtyard, but they could live there only by themselves—or pay a sum of Spirit Stones to buy a few places for their relatives.

A place that let you remain in the Blessed Land all year round was nothing like the kind that allowed entry only when the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster arrived.

Even maintaining one year-round was a considerable burden for a Qi Refining Realm cultivator.

Watching Cheng Xiurui leave on his own, most people looked envious and wistful. Yu Dashan was no exception.

In the past, he would surely have teased Yu Ershan, saying something like, "When I become a Qi Refining Realm cultivator someday, I'll take you in there to enjoy the good life, Second Yu."

He knew it was impossible, which was exactly why he used jokes to indulge that fantasy.

But now that he truly had a chance to enter the Blessed Land, he didn't dare say it.

He was afraid someone might hear.

In fact, Yu Dashan's worry was entirely unnecessary. Even if he'd proclaimed it confidently in front of everyone, no one would believe him. Most would think he was just dreaming.

Of course, everyone had dreamed that kind of dream.

But with that nagging caution in mind, Yu Dashan understood more and more how important it was to watch his words and actions.

Whether anyone believed him or whether anyone came up with wild speculations, he still had to keep his mouth shut.

That was what Yu Ershan had repeatedly warned him about before they set out.

Yu Ershan was now watching another settlement not far away. It had considerably more people than their own, but everyone looked battered, and many were injured.

Clearly, their group hadn't been the only one to encounter danger on the way to the Blessed Land.

A few more traces of worry appeared on his face.

"Could those people from that settlement be..."

Yu Dashan asked, unusually sharp for once.

The settlements were far apart and rarely had anything to do with one another, so Yu Dashan didn't know which one it was. But he had guessed what his brother was worried about.

"Probably not."

Yu Ershan shook his head.

Yangshan Gathering Place—the settlement where Miss Xiaoxiao lived—was closer to the Blessed Land than Ox Ridge Settlement.

Under normal circumstances, if they had set out early that morning, they should have arrived by now.

But there were simply too many people around, and Yu Ershan had no way to look for them one by one.

He could only hope their assigned lodgings would be in the same area.

As time passed, the settlements that had arrived earlier entered the Blessed Land. At last, it was Ox Ridge Settlement's turn.

In an instant, the crowd's anxious, restless hearts eased considerably.

Entering the Blessed Land meant they were safe.