White Phoenix Fief, the imperial palace of White Phoenix City.
Bai Xiaowen and his companions sat in a circle.
"That was roughly it. Report complete." Bai Xiaowen picked up a somewhat crude ceramic teacup and took a sip of water.
"..."
Aside from Zhen Mi, who paid more attention to decorum, the other companions all sat with their mouths agape, petrified for a full second.
After a brief silence, Qiao Rui finally said incredulously, "You mean that not only did you thwart Great Tang Domain's plot to occupy the Shaoding Plane, but you also tied the Supreme Clarity Sect to our chariot?"
Cecilia said, "And you brought back so many Astral Qi experts. Some of them are even stronger than I am!"
Han Xu said, "The Origin Martial True Scripture..."
Li Shuyi said, "And there's a surplus of nearly twenty thousand Spirit Crystals! That's not scientific. You must have hooked up with that female Sect Master!" She looked at Zhen Mi, who had remained calm and silent. "Sister Goddess of the Luo, why aren't you surprised at all?"
Zhen Mi covered her mouth and chuckled. "I know what my husband is capable of."
Bai Xiaowen coughed. "All right, enough joking... How has the fief been doing during the month I was gone?"
Zhen Mi reported first, "Everything is normal. Those teenage orphans have been very diligent and have already harvested the first crop of various vegetables. The rice should be ready for harvest in about another month. When the time comes, I will have people select the best seeds and expand the planting area. I have already sent a formation of Skeleton Workers to reclaim new farmland."
Han Xu said, "Using the tools we obtained through trade, I built a forge. The few apprentices we brought out have now learned