The Role of Settlements

The patrol mission along the border of the Myriad Ravine Ancient Plain had finally concluded successfully after a hundred years. When Elder Xuan Yue led the Third Patrol Team of Wutu Camp, along with Lin Yan, Mo Xuan, and Ao Ye, onto the journey home, the sights along the way had changed considerably from when they first arrived.

On their way here, they had mostly seen desolate and ruined lands shrouded in Malevolent Qi. The living beings they occasionally encountered had mostly been small tribes that lived in constant terror, barely surviving each day under the threat of ferocious beasts.

Yet on the way back, many small oases had appeared along the route, causing displaced Spirit Beasts to stop and linger there. Some had even treated them as temporary homes.

These small oases were the result of Lin Yan transforming the environment after the Patrol Team slew ferocious beasts along the way. However, because wandering ferocious beasts could destroy them at any time, these small oases were not truly suitable for long-term habitation.

But when the Patrol Team once again passed through the places they had previously rescued and where Lin Yan had guided the locals in establishing settlements, what greeted their eyes were scenes brimming with life force and bustling with activity.

On Clear Spring Peninsula, the Azure Water Spirit Toad Clan had cleansed the once-filthy marshes until the water was crystal clear. They had also set up a simple Water Mist Maze Formation around the peninsula, which could not only guard against small ferocious beasts but also gather water-attributed Spirit Qi. They had even used the purified swamp sludge to cultivate a kind of "Water Purifying Reed" that could weakly cleanse Malevolent Qi, steadily improving the surrounding waters.

Within the Gobi Oasis, the Sand Mole Clan had not only found a stable underground water source, but had also used their innate gifts to expand the oasis downward and build an underground village that stayed warm in winter and cool in summer. They had even discovered a small Earth Spirit Stone vein. Though the mined ore was of low grade, it was enough for them to forge finer tools and weapons, greatly increasing their strength.

Inside Thunderclap Fortress, the Thunder Pattern Dwarf Stone Clan had used the calmed Thunder Spirit Power to partially restore the fortress's defensive Runes. Though their power was far inferior to what it had been in the past, they were more than sufficient to fend off the harassment of ordinary Heavenly Immortal Level ferocious beasts. The "Lightning Strike Stones" they refined carried a faint trace of evil-breaking lightning power and had become hard currency in the surrounding region.

The Patrol Team's arrival was met with an enthusiastic welcome from the residents of every settlement. Lin Yan, meanwhile, received the highest level of hospitality.

The Patrol Team resupplied and rested at these outposts, greatly easing the hardships they had endured from being away for so long. Walking through the settlements, they actually felt as though they were deep within the Kirin Clan Hinterland.

When they arrived at Concentric Valley, the earliest settlement Lin Yan had helped establish, they were even more stunned.

The once shabby little valley had now completely changed.

At the valley entrance stood a massive archway gate, towering majestically. Warning Crystals that continuously flickered with faint light had been embedded into it. Clearly, the gate had received special enhancement through formations.

Within the valley, hundreds of neat Cave Dwellings had been carved into the once-bare mountain walls. On the sunlit slopes, fields of "Sunlight Grass" and "Calming Flowers" swayed in the breeze. Spirit Bees darted through the pale blue and pink-white sea of flowers, gathering nectar in a busy scene.

The warm spring at the valley's center had been expanded into a small Spirit Pool spanning several dozen zhang. Smooth bluestones had been stacked around its edge, while the water was clear enough to reveal the bottom. Misty Spirit Qi formed a thin white haze that lingered above it. Several delicate pavilions had even been built beside the pool, made from Ancient Vine and spiritwood. Though somewhat simple, they possessed a unique ingenuity.

"Th-this... is this the Warm Jade Valley from when we left?" Lei Zhen asked, his bull-like eyes wide with disbelief.

"How long has it even been? Thirty... or forty years?" After circling once in the air, Golden Feather landed, her eyes likewise full of astonishment. "The changes are just too great."

"Have you forgotten? This place has already been renamed Concentric Valley. It isn't called Warm Jade Valley anymore." Qing Luo opened her beautiful eyes and kept scanning the surroundings.

Even Shi Yue, who had always been steady and composed, could not help but split his wide mouth into a rare smile as he watched all kinds of living beings entering and leaving the valley. "Good heavens, this place seems to have become a small city."

Over the years, Concentric Valley had continually taken in stranded living beings and small clans. It now had at least a thousand residents.

After everyone was warmly welcomed into the valley, they found its roads neat and orderly. The entire valley had been divided into several functional areas, including a Residential Area, Spirit Plant Area, and trading area.

Some young fawns of the Spirit Hoof Tribe were playing beside the spirit herb fields. The sturdy men of the Stone Armor Tribe were using their innate gifts to reinforce a newly excavated rock wall, while the women of the Red Flower Wood Spirit Tribe controlled vines to weave a roof over a newly built pavilion.

There were also Spirit Beasts from other races, each busy with their own work. When they saw Lin Yan and the others arrive, they all revealed puzzled expressions, but none hid away in fear.

Though the valley was small, it was orderly and full of vitality, forming a stark contrast with the Primordial Wilderness outside, where Malevolent Qi permeated the air and danger lurked everywhere.

After they sat in a pavilion beside the Spirit Pool at the center of the valley, clan members soon brought them Qing Xin Tea brewed with Spirit Spring water, along with some homemade Spirit Fruit Preserves.

The old clan leader rubbed his hands, both excited and somewhat embarrassed. "Please don't laugh at us, benefactors. The valley has only just been established, and conditions are still quite crude. We truly have nothing fine to offer you. But thanks to the blessings of all our benefactors over these years, our three clans have settled down here and finally gained a stable home. Following Benefactor Lin's original guidance, we each made use of our strengths and supported one another. Life has been getting better day by day."

An Elder of the Stone Armor Tribe added in a deep, muffled voice, "That's right. Besides helping and cooperating with one another, our three clans also took in many other stranded living beings at Benefactor Lin's request. Today, our Concentric Valley is the largest settlement within a million li."

Elder Xuan Yue took a light sip of Qing Xin Tea, sensing the gentle Spirit Power within it. He nodded in praise. "The Spirit Qi here is at least thirty percent denser than when we left, and the population has nearly doubled. It is clear that you have managed this place with great care."

"It is all thanks to the 'community' method Benefactor Lin taught us!" The old clan leader looked toward Lin Yan, his eyes full of gratitude. "Benefactor told us to 'work together in unity and watch out for one another,' and we have kept those words close to heart. Now, it is not merely our three clans. The dozens of races throughout Concentric Valley are as close as one family. Whenever something happens, we discuss it together, and whenever there are gains, we share them together. That is how we have achieved today's prosperity. Oh, right."

He suddenly remembered something and hurriedly instructed the clan members, "Quickly, bring out our stores of 'Condensing Dew Grass Juice' and 'Warm Jade Marrow.' All of you upper clans patrol and fight outside year-round. These may be useful to you!"

Very soon, the clan members brought over several rough bamboo tubes and several beast-hide bundles. The bamboo tubes contained a jade-green, viscous grass juice that emitted a fresh fragrance, while the beast-hide bundles contained fine jade-colored powder, soft as sand and warm to the touch.

The old clan leader explained, "This Condensing Dew Grass Juice is refined from the Three-Leaf Condensing Dew Grass that is unique to our valley. It has excellent restorative effects on internal injuries and depleted Spirit Power. The Warm Jade Marrow was obtained while mining the Warm Jade Mine beneath the valley floor. Not only is it rich in Spirit Qi, but its nature is also gentle. It can be absorbed with barely any refinement. We specially saved these for all of you upper clans."

A sharp glint flashed through Elder Xuan Yue's eyes. Naturally, such items were beneath the notice of a Mysterious Immortal expert like him, but for Heavenly Immortal and True Immortal team members who patrolled outside year-round and were occasionally injured, they were good supplies.

But more importantly, the living beings of Concentric Valley had already grown from mere recipients of aid into support for the Kirin Clan. In the future, this place could even become a springboard or transit station for the Kirin Clan to expand its influence outward.

Most crucially, with Concentric Valley as a living example, the Kirin Clan's reputation beyond its borders would spread far and wide. Wouldn't those races still wandering outside the Kirin Clan come flocking over, competing to join the Kirin Clan?

At that thought, Elder Xuan Yue's heart burned with excitement.

Lin Yan was practically a priceless treasure Mo Xuan had brought back for the Kirin Clan. Though his cultivation was somewhat lacking, this mind and this strategic ability were precisely what the Kirin Clan lacked. With him, the Kirin Clan's power would steadily grow. Perhaps even dominating the Primordial Great Earth one day would not be impossible.

Lin Yan felt somewhat baffled. As Elder Xuan Yue listened to the old clan leader of the Hoof Spirit Clan and the Elder of the Stone Armor Tribe describe Concentric Valley's development, why had the way he looked at Lin Yan suddenly become so strange?

Elder Xuan Yue suppressed the excitement in his heart and turned to the old clan leader of the Hoof Spirit Clan and the Elder of the Stone Armor Tribe with a gentle expression. "Thank you both for your kindness. Then our Patrol Team will gladly accept. If Concentric Valley has any other difficulties now, you may tell us all at once. Our Kirin Clan will certainly do everything in our power to help you."

The old clan leader of the Hoof Spirit Clan and the elder of the Stone Armor Tribe exchanged glances. In the end, it was the old clan leader of the Hoof Spirit Clan who spoke first. "Strictly speaking, Benefactor Lin and the upper clans have already helped us greatly, and we truly should not ask for more assistance. But in recent years, we have discovered that as the number of living beings in Concentric Valley has steadily increased, the number of ferocious beasts around its outskirts has also risen. Our Concentric Valley has no experts stationed here, so we would like to ask the upper clans to send people to help us clear out the surrounding ferocious beasts."