Several more days passed in the blink of an eye.
The date was now November, Year 18 of the Immortal Calendar.
Using the "Forty-two Breaths" cultivation method alongside "Suoluo Seeds," Meng Nan cultivated once each morning and evening, advancing his basic progress by 30 Inner Breath per day.
Fourteen days after the end of the third life.
November 4.
[Progress unlocked--] [Basic Progress: 99%][Required] [Spirit Sand: 0%][Choose One of Two] [Sacrifice: 4/4][Choose One of Two][Completed]
"Go!"
Meng Nan lay on the bed. With a thought, he spent 4 Inner Breath to complete the final 1% of basic progress.
The next instant.
Time and space shifted, and heaven and earth dimmed!
Early in Year 40 of the Immortal Calendar.
The city-building plan, hotly debated for years in Tianlin Cave, was finally settled. The plan called for a great city to be built in each of Tianlin Cave's eight directions.
The news sent shockwaves through the land.
Nearly ten million people across Tianlin Cave's thirty thousand li were stunned.
Not long after, the Grand Steward of Tianlin Cave, who was overseeing the construction of "Angming City" in the south, summoned the lords of the Three Hundred Cave Villages to gather at Angming Mountain and discuss the great undertaking of building the city.
On this day.
Ancient trees soared through the primeval forest. Fort Lord Qian Yu of Yinlian Village traveled alongside the lords of the four nearby villages—Wujiu, Shanhuang, Heihu, and Dengxin. More than ten practitioners of True Qi from the five villages came with them.
It was plain that the lords of the five villages all regarded Qian Yu as their leader. The other four wore smiles.
Jiang Chuduan, Fort Lord of Dengxin Village, looked at Qian Yu and said with a smile, "I've long heard that Fort Lord Qian and the Grand Steward are close friends. When you see the Grand Steward later, please put in a good word for us."
"The five villages have always stood together. This city-building project will be a contest among the Three Hundred Cave Villages, and the struggle over interests is bound to be fierce. We're all willing to follow Fort Lord Qian and the Grand Steward's lead! Whatever you two command, we'll obey!"
Fort Lord Shen Jinfa of Wujiu Village chimed in as well.
Building a city meant a reshuffling of interests.
The Three Hundred Cave Villages would be combined into a single city. No one could say how much scheming and how many benefits were involved, but everyone could imagine.
None of the villages wanted to lose out. Every lord wanted to claim an advantage and get a share of the spoils.
With that in mind, of course they had to cling tightly to the powerful Yinlian Village.
"The Grand Steward is overseeing the construction of 'Angming City' at the Immortal Master's behest. He'll surely be impartial."
"Just do your own parts well."
Qian Yu gave no direct answer, leaving no words that could be used against her. But her relaxed expression, easy smile, and willingness to chat made her meaning clear to these old hands.
"Exactly!"
"Who doesn't know how highly Immortal Master Zheng thinks of the Grand Steward? Fort Lord Qian, don't worry. We'll do everything we can to help the Grand Steward make this project a success!"
Everyone laughed and agreed.
The journey passed in a warm, harmonious mood.
When they reached Angming Mountain, they saw that many people had already arrived outside the mountain, and someone was there to receive them.
One person spotted Qian Yu and brightened. She immediately pushed through the crowd and hurried over to her. The girl looked about fifteen or sixteen. She carried a long spear and wore a golden ring on her wrist; both seemed to be extraordinary magical artifacts.
The girl rushed up and called to Qian Yu cheerfully, "Senior Martial Aunt, my dad told me to wait here for you."
Then she took Qian Yu by the hand and led her straight up the mountain.
After Qian Yu left.
"Looks like the rumors were true."
"That girl must be the Grand Steward's youngest daughter. She calls Fort Lord Qian 'Senior Martial Aunt' and waited here especially for her. Their families must be close."
"In recent years, Yinlian Village has been led by the Grand Steward and Fort Lord Qian. They've produced quite a few outstanding people. Many are now cultivating in Tianlin Cave. Given time, once the city is built, Yinlian Village will surely be one of the top powers in the city."
Jiang Chuduan and the other three village lords were all envious.
"Blue waters plunge from a thousand ravines; jade peaks rise, twin summits cold."
Angming Mountain had four hundred strange peaks, eighty-eight beautiful ridges, twelve hundred streams, one hundred and eighteen waterfalls, four hundred and sixteen pools, and three thousand caves.
Strange peaks rose steeply, bizarre rocks jutted out, ravines ran deep, and clear pools dotted the land.
It was truly a wondrous place.
Its main peak was Wuyun Peak.
The mountain paths wound back and forth a thousand times, each turn more distinctive than the last. Green pines lined both sides of the road, and the scenery was beautiful. In late autumn, the pines were emerald and the maples scarlet, while mountain flowers blazed brightly. Under the sunlight, it looked like a five-colored cloud, and so the peak got its name.
At that moment.
On the mountain path.
Qian Yu watched Meng Santan skip around, chattering at her nonstop. Now and then, she waved the red-tasseled spear in her hand with a series of "hey!" and "hah!" sounds, taking the golden ring off her wrist and slipping it back on.
She was so smug.
It was quite amusing.
Qian Yu finally caught on and asked Meng Santan, "What kind of magical artifacts are these two?"
Oh, thank goodness!
My dear Senior Martial Aunt! You finally asked!
"Ha!"
Meng Santan laughed, thrust the red-tasseled spear forward, and said with a "hey," "This spear is called the 'Purple Flame Serpent Spear Fire-Tipped Spear.' Its tip can spew fire. There are two parts, and they can be joined together. The other end has a serpent-spear blade."
As she spoke.
A flame suddenly burst from the tip of the Fire-Tipped Spear, like a firework.
"Hey!"
Meng Santan wasn't embarrassed at all. She laughed and said, "I just got it, so I haven't gotten used to it yet. Once my cultivation improves, this spear will be amazing."
Qian Yu suppressed a laugh and asked, "And what's that golden ring?"
"The golden ring is powerful too! It's called the 'Qiankun Ring'!"
"It's a supreme treasure of gold, utterly indestructible and incredibly hard. When thrown, it can strike anything with tremendous force, and it can change size."
As Meng Santan spoke, she tossed the golden ring. With a bang, it smashed a blue-gray stone beside the path.
But she couldn't call it back.
She hurried over, step after step, to pick up her "Qiankun Ring," then grinned and explained to Qian Yu, "My Inner Breath isn't enough yet. Once I advance to Inner Qi, then True Qi, I'll be able to throw this Qiankun Ring, make it big or small, send it out or call it back. That's when it'll really be powerful!"
Meng Santan showed off her two newly acquired treasures with great airs and finally felt satisfied.
Qian Yu found it both amusing and moving. "Your dad certainly doesn't hold back, despite being the Grand Steward."
Needless to say, these magical artifacts must have been custom-made for Meng Santan by a weapon refiner in Tianlin Cave's Four Arts Hall.
Meng Santan led Qian Yu up the mountain as the aunt and niece chatted.
Soon.
They reached the palace on the mountain.
"My dad's inside. Senior Martial Aunt, go on in by yourself. I'm going out to play."
Meng Santan brought Qian Yu to the door and left her there, turning to head back down the mountain.
She hadn't shown off enough yet.
"That girl!"
Qian Yu chuckled and entered.
As soon as she went in.
Someone came to greet her.
He was handsome and graceful, his manner calm and elegant. He walked over and bowed to Qian Yu, greeting her as "Senior Martial Aunt" as well.
It was the Meng family's second son.
"You've grown taller again, Meng Jian."
Qian Yu smiled at Meng Jian. Her gaze fell on the sword at his waist, and she could tell it was no ordinary weapon. She also noticed a black dog at his feet, fierce and alert. It was no ordinary beast either.
Impressive!
Qian Yu praised him inwardly, then followed Meng Jian into the inner rooms.
When she entered the inner courtyard.
She immediately saw a married couple approaching together, both calling her "Senior Martial Sister."
The man was none other than the eldest disciple of Immortal Master Zheng of Tianlin Cave, and the Grand Steward of the Four Arts Hall—
Meng Nan.
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