"Please, go ahead." The king was a decisive man. He would not make his current faith wait too long.
"I want to borrow a patch of wasteland in your country and develop it into a small city." Nan Xuan folded his hands and spoke slowly.
When the king heard this, his face bloomed like a chrysanthemum. This would bring him nothing but benefits.
A developing city was the main way to stimulate the surrounding economy. He had complete faith in the God of the Network's capabilities.
"Of course there's no problem. This isn't a request at all—you're clearly bringing benefits to my Balak Kingdom." The king replied excitedly.
"Do you have a preferred location?" the king asked the crucial question.
Nan Xuan used his Sixth Soul Skill and First Soul Skill to project a mirrored aerial map of the entire Balak Kingdom.
Seeing this, the king repeatedly exclaimed at how miraculous it was.
"I intend to choose this place, a little north of Suotuo City. The terrain there consists of high hills, and the area beneath the mountaintop is densely forested. It fits the design I have in mind perfectly." Nan Xuan pointed to the location on the map and looked at the king with a smile.
"Easy, easy. Go right ahead. If you lack construction workers, I can help solve that too." The king had no objections to Nan Xuan's chosen site. If it were up to him personally, he would have preferred it built in his royal capital.
"Hahaha, there's no need for Your Majesty to worry about that. I have construction workers on my side. Since I'm taking your land, I'll naturally provide proper compensation. I'll have someone discuss the details with you later." Nan Xuan was somewhat unaccustomed to the Balak king's enthusiasm.
"Fine, then. You won't be short of money anyway." The king did not refuse. Just as he had said, the other party would not lack money.
After speaking with the king for a while, the king personally issued Nan Xuan a construction permit. Before leaving, Nan Xuan thought for a moment and placed a special pattern on the king's martial soul—it was the emblem of his own martial soul.
That night, Nan Xuan returned to the hotel Lan Yingying had booked. They reserved a private room and handed the selected site and construction permit to Niu Gao.
Once Nan Xuan showed everyone the design plans, their eyes widened. This design had never before appeared on the continent. Nan Xuan had pioneered something new again.
The small city atop the mountain would use a fusion of Chinese and Western architecture as its foundation. Layers of blue-and-white technological metal formed angular walls, while two azure wings spread wide as though soaring into the sky.
From the foot of the mountain to its peak, the entire route would use escalator-like elevators. The surrounding trees would not be damaged, preserving the natural atmosphere.
"Th-this design will probably take a very long time to build. And those metal materials will be no small expense either." Niu Gao gave his assessment.
"Don't worry. Just follow the blueprints. I'll handle everything else." Nan Xuan smiled knowingly. Judging from their expressions, he knew his plans were quite good.
"This building will become our future headquarters. It can be considered a small city, though the city itself can only be built below the mountaintop."
Nan Xuan laid out a small plan for his future home. After all, the Four Great Families below had quite a large population, and it would only grow in the future. He did not want everyone living up above, as that would be too chaotic.
Naturally, no one objected to Nan Xuan's suggestion. They agreed with the idea as well.
After eating and drinking, everyone returned to their rooms. They planned to head to the site and begin work the next day.
At the hotel, in Nan Xuan's room.
"Nan Xuan, your design is seriously too wild. I've traveled the continent for so long, but I've never seen anything like it." Liu Mumu lay sprawled on the bed, her feet kicked up behind her as she propped her cheek with her left hand.
"Mumu, can you stop focusing on this stuff all the time? It's rest time now. Why don't you learn from Yingying? She at least knows to help me take off my clothes. So next, should you be the one taking them off?" Nan Xuan pointed at his pants and looked at Liu Mumu.
"Tch, no way. I still have to suffer later, so why don't you help me with it?" Liu Mumu looked at Nan Xuan and replied speechlessly.
A moment later, she realized there was something wrong with what she had said.
"Sure. I'll help you take them off later." Nan Xuan chuckled and pounced onto the bed.
Lan Yingying watched the two troublemakers with helplessness. Still, she felt that such days were relaxing. With this man around, she did not need to worry about anything. She only needed to take care of their little home.
The next day, Nan Xuan and the others transported supplies to the construction site.
"Brother Xuan, this project of yours is pretty huge. Look at those massive boulders on the mountaintop, and that enormous rocky mountain. This is going to take some time." Yang Tian looked at the hundred-meter-high mountain before them and pondered aloud.
"My soul skills are all for single combat and stacking attacks. I can't take this job." Chen Gao spread his hands helplessly.
"Rest assured, Your Excellencies, we have tools for cutting through mountains. It may take longer, but they'll get the job done." Niu Gao replied happily.
Seeing that all these big shots were at a loss, Niu Gao felt it was finally time for his usefulness to shine.
"You still need your big brother here. Move aside a little. I don't want to hurt you later." Nan Xuan spread his arms, dragged Niu Gao, Tai Tan, and the others back a bit, and spoke with a calm expression.
Lan Yingying rubbed her forehead helplessly. She knew this guy was about to show off again. There was clearly nothing to show off here, yet he insisted on flaunting himself.
Nan Xuan wasted no more words and summoned his martial soul. Nine soul rings appeared behind him.
"Two hundred-thousand-year soul rings!" Yang Wudi exclaimed in shock.
Yang Tian smiled calmly. "Standard stuff. There'll be more to shock you later."
Nan Xuan had already begun using his soul skill.
"Saint Emperor Judgment." As Nan Xuan roared, the ninth soul ring behind him instantly lit up.
A dark-blue halo appeared in the sky, and in an instant, a huge shadow tore through the clouds and struck directly at the rocky mountain.
Only after the massive shadow pierced the rocky mountain did everyone see that it was a dark-blue divine spear.
The rocky mountain instantly split apart, turning into boulders of varying sizes.
"Brother Xuan, are you really an auxiliary-type soul master?" Chen Gao asked in astonishment.
"I used to be. Not anymore." Nan Xuan replied with a grin.
In truth, Nan Xuan had held back greatly with this move. Otherwise, he feared the entire mountain would have shattered.
Chen Gao and the others felt somewhat embarrassed. If they had not spent so many years together and built up some immunity, they would have reacted just like those Single Attribute Clans, gaping like country bumpkins.
"I have a sword that can move mountains, sever rivers, pluck stars, destroy cities, and split the heavens." Nan Xuan's chuunibyou aura erupted as a dark-blue longsword appeared in his hand. He swept it horizontally toward the mountaintop.
Chen Gao and the others were frozen by the sight. It was so damn cool. I want to do that too.
As Liu Mumu watched, her eyes held a trace of admiration.
What Nan Xuan had just used was also one of the Ninth Soul Ring's soul skills, though it had been weakened many times over.
"Ahem, everyone, time to get to work. Pick up your dropped jaws." Nan Xuan looked at the Single Attribute Four Great Families, all wearing expressions of utter shock, and gave a light cough.
"Oh, right. Work, work."
At his call, the others finally recovered. The visual effects of that soul skill—no, the power of that soul skill—were truly incredible. At least, they had never seen anything so powerful before.
Yang Wudi arranged for his men to set up tents. They would be living here from now on, until this entire project was completed.
"Niu Gao, I'll leave this task to you. If you run short on materials, contact me through the Network World. You can handle everything else. I'll transfer the funds to your Network Card." Nan Xuan patted Niu Gao's shoulder and smiled.
"Don't worry, Your Excellency. I'll definitely complete the mission." Niu Gao replied, grinning as he patted his chest.
For an Infrastructure Maniac, a project like this was the pursuit of a lifetime.
After giving his instructions, Nan Xuan left with Chen Gao and the others. They did not want to stay here waiting for the project to be finished.
"Brother Xuan, where are we going next?" Yang Tian asked.
After pondering for a moment, Nan Xuan did not immediately answer Yang Tian's question. Instead, he looked at Chen Gao and asked with a smile, "Chen Gao, do you remember the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect we met in Spirit City?"
"How could I forget? That guy even gambled on stones with you." Chen Gao immediately recalled it when Nan Xuan mentioned it.
"So, we're going to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to have some fun." Nan Xuan looked at Yang Tian and answered his earlier question.
"What gambling on stones? How come we don't know about that?" Yang Tian asked in confusion.
"That was over ten years ago. You were off obtaining soul rings at the time, so you didn't know." Chen Gao answered casually.
"Fine, then." Yang Tian could only spread his hands helplessly.
The group took their families and rode carriages toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Several days later, Seven Treasure City.
"Seven Treasure City truly deserves its reputation as the richest city." Shi Qiaoyue gazed at the colorful gems before her and sighed.
"I just wonder whether there are any specialty dishes worth learning to make." Compared to admiring gemstones, Aili preferred learning how to prepare delicious food.
Aini agreed with her younger sister and smiled as she nodded.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go. I've been here before—I'll take you around." Liu Mumu jumped straight off the carriage and called out to the sisters.
The sisters were not the type to dawdle. They left as soon as they decided to go. Lan Yingying was somewhat reluctant to join them, but after the other sisters dragged her along, she gave up resisting.
"Alright, now that everyone's wives have gone shopping, what do you guys want to do?" Yang Tian asked with a grin.
"Hey, hold on. Before that, I want to ask something. Brother Xuan, does Sister Dong know about the two sisters-in-law by your side?" Chen Gao asked with a squinting smile.
Nan Xuan chuckled and answered without caring, "Of course she knows. Do you think I'm afraid of her? You think I'm like you guys?"
"Why are you speaking such painful truths? We just love our wives very much. We aren't playboys." Yang Tian immediately shot back at Nan Xuan's mockery.
"My relationship with Aini is very good and very sincere." Yang Fei said with a yearning expression.
"I—"
Just as Chen Gao was about to speak, Nan Xuan cut him off.
"You don't need to say anything. You were the biggest scumbag when we were kids. I can believe Yang Fei, but you two? Heh heh." Nan Xuan looked at these childhood friends, who still dared to put on an act before him. Did they really think his soul skills were just for decoration?
"Brother Xuan, did you just use your soul skill to look at us?" Yang Tian asked with a dark expression.
Nan Xuan said nothing.
"Damn it, we're brothers, and you actually peeked? That's too much." Yang Tian replied speechlessly.
"No, don't slander me. I was just thinking about something. Don't overthink it."
"Look, they've gone shopping. How about we head straight to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for a look around? We can even spar with Sword Douluo while we're at it." Nan Xuan immediately changed the subject. He did not want to take the blame. He had only taken a tiny peek, not much.
Before you continue