The Great Undertaking of City Building

There was no sternness.

There was no spiritual power.

There was no pressure.

Lu Ya merely cast a faint glance.

The giant eagle's golden pupils constricted, as if staring into an abyss.

A shrill, terrified screech pierced the clouds as it violently flapped its wings, flying erratically in a frenzy, struggling with all its might to break free from Lord Black Stone's control.

Lord Black Stone was slightly startled.

Is it afraid?

In all these years, this was the first time he had felt such terror from the giant eagle beneath his feet.

This was an Immortal Court Hunting Falcon of the Immortal Sect level!

What exactly was Lu Ya's background?

Lord Black Stone stomped his right foot down, and the spiritual pressure of a six-star Immortal Sect expert surged instantly. Violent spiritual power rippled through the eagle's body, sending feathers flying as he forcibly suppressed the beast's rampage.

He checked Lu Ya's gaze once more.

Gentle, calm, plain, devoid of any spiritual pressure, and even lacking any discernible attitude, as if he were simply responding to the words, "The Immortal Realm is vast, you should go out and see more."

Had he hidden his true strength?

Or was it some demonic art of Liu Xuanye?

Or perhaps he was concealing a heaven-defying treasure?

There was no time to ponder, for a crazed shriek erupted—

The giant eagle beneath his feet broke out in an even more violent struggle!

Cold sweat beaded on Lord Black Stone's forehead. This giant eagle possessed formidable strength, not much inferior to his own; now that it had fallen into a frenzy, it would be difficult to suppress without going all out to kill it.

Is this forcing me to kill an Immortal Court spirit beast just like you?

His sea of qi churned, and Lord Black Stone was just about to lash out.

At that very moment, Lu Ya suddenly turned his head away.

He went back to roasting his falcon, indifferent and unbothered, as if no one else existed.

The giant eagle's golden pupils relaxed slightly, and it abruptly calmed down, as if nothing had happened.

It's over just like that?

Lord Black Stone let out a long sigh of relief, and when he looked at Lu Ya again, he felt a sense of inexplicable awe.

Despite looking down from the sky, he found himself involuntarily gazing up with reverence.

He suddenly realized that he was the frog in the well who needed to go out and see more.

He couldn't even discern the strength of the man before him!

It was fortunate that his mask hid his face, preventing others from seeing his embarrassment.

And it was fortunate that Lu Ya had turned away, or he would have killed the giant eagle.

The Sword Terrace was deathly silent.

Zhang Pingzhi and Tahongzi didn't even understand what had happened.

They only saw Lord Black Stone flick his sleeve, and a silver jade slip drifted slowly down from the sky.

It landed in Lu Ya's palm.

Lord Black Stone cupped his hands in a bow, his tone becoming extremely respectful.

"This is Mr. Lu's Immortal Rank Jade Slip. Caiyun deacon Lord Black Stone congratulates Mr. Lu on ascending to the Immortal Rank!"

Mr. Lu?

Lu Ya smiled, put away the jade slip, and said nothing more.

Zhang Pingzhi and Tahongzi were utterly confused and were about to argue, but Lord Black Stone snatched them back onto the eagle's back through the air.

Lord Black Stone did not want to stay a moment longer. Before leaving, he thought for a moment and added:

"The Caiyun Immortal Court will conduct a surprise inspection of your sect within the year. It requires the sect to have at least one hundred disciples or ten thousand Immortal Commoners on Floating Mountain; otherwise, the sect will be disbanded, and the residency rights to Floating Mountain will be revoked."

Ning Zhongzi's willow-leaf brows furrowed tightly. She wanted to say something, but seeing Lu Ya remain unmoved, she held her tongue.

To Lu Ya, such trifles were not worth mentioning.

"Understood."

"Official business is pressing, I shall take my leave."

Lord Black Stone cupped his hands, rode the eagle away, and soon vanished into the horizon.

After the eagle had flown hundreds of miles away from the Bamboo Spring Sect, Zhang Pingzhi, who had been holding back for a long time, finally couldn't help but ask:

"Senior Black Stone, slaughtering an Immortal Court spirit beast is a grave crime. We three joined forces to suppress the Bamboo Spring Sect; why let that brat go?"

Black Stone pulled back his mask, revealing a dark, rugged face that looked like a piece of black stone.

"This Elder Lu is somewhat peculiar."

"How could the Immortal Court's sword-sense be mistaken? He is nothing but a despicable wretch who climbed the ranks through his body. He doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, actually poisoning an Immortal Court Hunting Falcon. As long as you restrain Liu Xuanye, I can execute him on the spot."

"I fear you cannot kill him."

"As an Immortal Court deacon, even if we cannot kill him, we should be prepared to sacrifice our lives to uphold the prestige of the Immortal Court. How can there be any hesitation?"

"Do you still not understand? The one disgracing the majesty of the Immortal Court is you..."

Zhang Pingzhi was left speechless, his face stinging as if he had been slapped, his complexion turning even gloomier and paler.

Beside him, Tahongzi, unable to bear seeing her fellow disciple humiliated, retorted:

"But Senior, was it appropriate to tip off the Bamboo Spring Sect about the Immortal Court's operation?"

Black Stone stroked his beard slightly.

"If you hadn't spoken so bluntly and allowed them to record evidence, would I have needed to sell this favor to the Bamboo Spring Sect? You are both still young with bright futures; you cannot capsize the boat over such a trivial matter."

Though Zhang Pingzhi remained unconvinced, he lowered his head, unable to argue further.

Black Stone continued:

"Liu Xuanye is refusing visitors today. Presumably, after ascending to the Immortal Sect, it will be even harder to control her Husband-Killing Poison Body. In this state, the Bamboo Spring Sect cannot possibly develop a hundred disciples or ten thousand Immortal Commoners within a year. Even if Liu Xuanye's partner is truly hiding his strength, he cannot save the Bamboo Spring Sect under these circumstances."

"If they are driven to desperation and force people into the sect, then the Immortal Court won't even need to raid them; the Bamboo Spring Sect will be disbanded directly."

"Therefore, this favor I granted may well be a cup of poison to the Bamboo Spring Sect. You two need not dwell on it; just watch the show quietly."

Zhang Pingzhi and his companion still felt something was off, but they admired Black Stone's political savvy and bowed in unison.

"Senior is wise."

Bamboo Spring Sect.

After Black Stone and his two companions left, Ning Zhongzi finally let out a sigh of relief.

Black Stone is an old fox, his mastery of "Tai Chi" tactics is flawless; he has skimmed plenty of profit from the Bamboo Spring Sect over the years.

Of course, if not for his secret maneuvering, the Bamboo Spring Sect would not have lasted until today; the two sides could be considered to have a mutually beneficial relationship.

He, who had always strategized and never failed, had met his match in Lu Ya today.

Barbecuing an Immortal Court Hunting Falcon in full view of everyone, and forcing Black Stone to nearly kill his own hunting falcon with just a glance...

Is Senior Brother Lu really this strong?

The more familiar she became with Lu Ya, the less Ning Zhongzi could see through this man.

But for Senior Brother to openly roast an Immortal Court spirit beast in broad daylight—wasn't that a bit too reckless?

Fortunately, everything turned out well today. Ning Zhongzi stopped dwelling on it, walked to Lu Ya's side, and with an elegant posture, bowed slightly.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother, on attaining a rank in the Immortal Court."

She then used her divine sense to remind Muyu Feifei, who was adding firewood.

The two young girls finally lifted their singed tiger-headed faces and mumbled symbolically toward Lu Ya:

"Congratulations, Junior Uncle, on attaining a rank in the Immortal Falcon."

Thwack! Thwack! Two knocks to the head.

The two girls finally realized they had misspoken.

"Congratulations, Junior Uncle, on attaining a rank in the Immortal Court."

Now that the "iron rice bowl" was in hand, Lu Ya didn't feel the excitement he had imagined. Just as Muyu Feifei had said, it didn't smell as good as the roasted Immortal Court Hunting Falcon.

The reputation was much nicer, at least; he was no longer a wandering immortal without a home, but an elite of the Immortal Realm eating from the Immortal Court's public coffers.

Ning Zhongzi added:

"If nothing goes wrong, Senior Brother can hold the Partner Sealing Ceremony with the Sect Master tomorrow."

Lu Ya nodded.

"That works."

At this moment, the falcon meat was finally cooked.

Drops of red oil slid slowly down the plump skin, sizzling with a pleasant sound.

Muyu Feifei was drooling, and ignoring the heat, she took a bite, her mouth filled with burning, boiling flavor.

Lu Ya felt his stomach churning and his appetite stirring, but he still asked politely:

"Would Senior Sister like to taste some?"

Ning Zhongzi kept a straight face, suppressing the inexplicable appetite brought on by the heavenly aroma, and said sternly:

"I do not eat meat."

"Do you have any wine?"

"I do not drink."

"No meat, no wine, just group cultivation—Senior Sister's life is truly boring and dull."

"..."

Ignoring Ning Zhongzi, Lu Ya tore off a piece of falcon meat and placed it gently into his mouth.

The heaven-defying flavor spread like ripples, surging through his mouth.

The falcon meat, refined by the Bamboo Fire, was already overflowing with fragrance, and with the enhancement of the Seasoning Fruit, it became even more flavorful—tender, smooth, crispy, savory, salty, numbing, spicy, and moist, all dancing and tumbling in his mouth at once.

One chew, and all unhappiness was forgotten.

Two chews, and it felt like walking among the clouds.

Three chews, and it was like ascending to immortality.

Lu Ya was so moved he was on the verge of tears.

Since transmigrating, this was the first time he had tasted meat and eaten something decent!

Muyu Feifei pounced like a starving tiger, acting like a glutton, terrified that she might eat too slowly.

Watching the shocking eating habits of the two young girls, Ning Zhongzi's willow-leaf brows furrowed tightly, and her collar trembled slightly.

"Is this how you ate the Xiuchiu?"

Muyu Feifei's small face froze; she stopped eating, her expression suddenly turning heavy.

"Humans are truly shameful, completely without limits."

"Poor Senior Immortal Falcon, ridden by people in life, and eaten by them in death."

"I, Muyu."

"I, Feifei."

"Hereby observe a moment of silence for our senior."

Having said that, the two buried their heads and ate even faster.

The corner of Ning Zhongzi's eye twitched.

"Is this your version of a moment of silence?"

"Nanny, as a mere human, how could you possibly understand the mourning customs of our Beast Race?"

"Senior Falcon has been liberated, while we two must still suffer the bullying of humans."

As they spoke, the two girls wailed and burst into tears, choking down the meat as they sobbed.

"Look, I'm so angry I'm crying."

"To think there could be such a beau... cough, cough, such a tragic thing in this world, wuwuwuwu..."

Ning Zhongzi:

"..."

Lu Ya:

"..."

After gathering her emotions, Ning Zhongzi secretly glanced at Lu Ya and asked in a soft voice:

"Regarding the year-end surprise inspection mentioned by Deacon Black Stone, Senior Brother must have a way, right?"

Lu Ya took a large bite of meat, refusing to fall for her trap.

"What way could I have? I'm just here to cultivate my health; you girls should keep working hard."

Ning Zhongzi was not discouraged and continued:

"After the Sect Master ascended to the Ascension Sect, her husband-killing constitution did not ease in the slightest. Given this, it is impossible to develop one hundred disciples for the sect within a year."

"It's not just male disciples; even female disciples dare not come up the mountain. The cost of enlightening spirit beasts to serve as disciples is too high. With the resources of the Bamboo Spring Sect, enlightening ten Beast Immortal is the limit."

Enlightening Beast Immortal to make up the numbers?

The tool-girl Muyu Feifei was currently eating the falcon meat frantically in anger, tears plopping down—it was too delicious... no, it was too tragic.

Lu Ya looked at the fertile plains below the mountain.

"So you want to develop ten thousand Immortal Commoner?"

Ning Zhongzi nodded.

"Exactly. The Immortal Commoner live at the foot of the mountain, maintaining a relatively safe distance from the Sect Master. Furthermore, our Floating Mountain is rich in spiritual energy and the soil is fertile. Attracting ten thousand Immortal Commoner to settle here within a year is difficult, but it is still simpler than developing one hundred sect disciples."

"So you want to hand this task over to me?"

"Senior Brother has profound cultivation and can maintain close contact with the Sect Master. If Senior Brother steps forward, supplemented by incentives, you will surely be able to attract some refugees to settle here."

Lu Ya focused on his meat and refused flatly:

"Not doing it."

Ning Zhongzi seemed to have prepared for this, her tone suddenly softening.

"Immortal Wheat can be used to brew wine."

Lu Ya raised an eyebrow:

"Wine?"

"A bountiful harvest of Immortal Wheat will attract beast tides."

"Meat?"

"If the agricultural industry flourishes, we can establish a town here to attract outside merchants. That way, life in the Bamboo Spring Sect will be much more convenient, and Senior won't have to run all the way to East Floating City for whatever you need."

"Convenient life?"

"Once the town is established, local entertainment will also increase, unlike the current Bamboo Spring Sect, which is as boring and dull as Senior Brother described."

"Abundant entertainment?"

"As for recruiting outside Immortal Commoners, Senior only needs to make an occasional appearance and display a bit of your strength; the specific matters can be handled by Muyu Feifei."

"Someone to run errands?"

Good heavens, there's wine, meat, a convenient life, abundant entertainment, and someone to run errands...

Lu Ya's imagination ran wild. He glanced at Ning Zhongzi's statuesque profile and beautiful face, sighing inwardly:

This woman isn't as brainless as her figure makes her look!