The Organization Has an Important Mission for You

Stepping out of Liu Xuanye's bedchamber.

Lu Ya turned and walked into the bamboo forest.

Red lanterns set up by Ning Zhongzi hung from the bamboo branches, looking like overripe tomatoes.

The glow of the sunset pierced through the branches and leaves, casting sparse light that intertwined with the morning mist, sprinkling over the dew-soaked lanterns.

This made the double-happiness characters on the lantern skins appear faint and hazy, like a deep-palace maiden hiding her face behind a veil.

Lu Ya felt dizzy, his legs numb.

Sit cross-legged for a whole night, and you'd be numb too.

These mortal senses were truly something else, but having completed a major life event, Lu Ya still felt a bit of joy in his heart.

The feeling of being married was quite marvelous.

A mature woman like Liu Xuanye, who exuded a hint of lazy sexiness beneath her cold exterior, was actually a natural?

She didn't even understand dual cultivation?

Or was it that Ning Zhongzi had intentionally deceived her?

Could it be that what Ning Zhongzi called "group cultivation" just meant practicing together?

You two are really something!

Returning to the Sword Terrace.

With green light and a sea of clouds, the morning glow filled the sky, and the vast Sword Terrace was bathed in the warm morning sun.

Every morning, Ning Zhongzi would stand at the edge of the cliff to watch the sunrise.

Her broad chest was stirred by the gentle morning breeze, creating a hint of elegant rhythm and charm.

She loved this land more than anyone else.

Lu Ya walked past, yawning, and said casually:

"Morning."

"Senior Brother, morning."

By the time Ning Zhongzi turned around, Lu Ya had already ducked into the Bamboo Cottage by the edge of the bamboo forest.

He wanted to catch up on his sleep.

Pushing the door open, he discovered.

Muyu Feifei was sprawled across his bed.

Arms and legs splayed, the bump on her head hadn't faded yet, and she was drooling at the corner of her mouth, mumbling in a daze.

"I... just... wanted to... disrupt the bridal chamber..."

"It's not... your bridal chamber... why... wouldn't you let me..."

For a moment, Lu Ya really wanted to kick the two bratty kids under the bed.

After thinking about it, he decided against it.

Enduring his exhaustion, he stepped back outside.

He ran headlong into the sunrise.

Amidst the dense morning glow, golden light suddenly erupted like molten steel, splashing out and crowding around the sun as it slowly rose from the Floating Mountain in the distance!

The clouds across the sky were layered and patched, turning from dark red to a dazzling golden yellow, intensifying until, in the blink of an eye, they dyed the entire world red.

Ning Zhongzi did not turn back, only saying softly.

"The sunrise is beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

Lu Ya nodded, feeling a bit dizzy from looking at the sun.

"I hope to see it every day for the rest of my life."

Ning Zhongzi's voice was calm, her tone filled with infinite affection for her homeland.

Lu Ya said out of the blue:

"What if it rains?"

Ning Zhongzi:

"..."

Lu Ya gazed at her back, seeing both a sense of responsibility and a touch of desolation.

"If you are strong enough, you can see the sunrise even on a rainy day."

Ning Zhongzi didn't understand, so she turned around.

Looking at Lu Ya's heavy eye bags, his dark forehead, his hands on his waist, and his unsteady legs, she understood perfectly.

"How did you rest last night, Senior Brother?"

"What do you think?"

Lu Ya retorted with a huff.

If it weren't for your misguided teachings to Liu Xuanye, I would have sacrificed myself for the Bamboo Spring Sect last night.

Ning Zhongzi shook her head and smiled, a smile that was quite beautiful.

She only dressed with such grace; in reality, she was only eight hundred years older than Liu Xuanye. By the standards of his past life, she looked like a woman of about thirty at most.

Looking closely, her features were exquisite, but having spent years by Liu Xuanye's side and deliberately dressing in a stern, rigid manner, she rarely stood out.

In her rare, gentle smile, Lu Ya caught a glimpse of exhaustion.

Because Liu Xuanye could not interact with outsiders, Ning Zhongzi shouldered all the affairs of the sect alone, a burden far too heavy for a Five-Star Immortal Master.

Not for a day.

Not for a year.

It had been over three thousand years since she picked Liu Xuanye up from the snow!

The bright red morning sun illuminated her delicate face.

Her fatigue was far greater than Lu Ya's.

Lu Ya was deeply moved...

And then he continued to be a slacker.

At this moment, Ning Zhongzi took a green bamboo tube from her robes and said softly:

"Seeing that Senior Brother enjoys drinking, I made this bamboo wine tube last night. Inside is some Immortal Rice Brew from last night, along with medicinal herbs to relieve fatigue and nourish the body."

Lu Ya shamelessly took the green bamboo tube.

The tube was the thickness of a forearm and a foot long, its surface glazed by fire, looking quite refined.

The side was carved with a bamboo relief depicting the five members of the Bamboo Spring Sect together—

Lu Ya was holding Liu Xuanye horizontally, looking up quietly at the night sky; Ning Zhongzi stood to the side, gazing at the heavens; Muyu Feifei was perched on a slanted pine, pointing at the night sky.

The night was filled with a river of stars like flowing water.

The artistic conception was beautiful.

Ning Zhongzi had clearly transplanted the scene from last night's wedding banquet onto the Sword Terrace.

She had changed Muyu Feifei riding the Wine Fox Immortal's large gourd to her sitting on a slanted pine.

The night sky also lacked the black arms and millions of white eyes, replaced instead by a starry sky like water.

It was extremely romantic.

Lu Ya was somewhat touched and said softly:

"Senior Sister is very thoughtful."

Ning Zhongzi pointed at the tube.

"Give it a try."

"Mm."

In reality, Lu Ya, a shut-in, did not like to drink; it hurt the liver and stomach and got in the way of things.

But in the game, he was a god of wine; he had high attainments in brewing, mixing, and tasting.

These attainments had transferred to the True Immortal Realm, making him feel that drinking a little in the Immortal Realm wasn't so bad.

He opened the bamboo stopper.

A rich scent of grain wafted out, mixed with a faint medicinal fragrance and a clear sweetness.

Floating on the clear surface of the wine were a few red, date-pit-shaped dried fruits.

Are these goji berries?

Lu Ya was stunned.

Giving me goji berries right after we get married?

Do I have no face to save?

Fortunately, the goji berries were delicious.

Lu Ya took a sip with a goji berry in his mouth; a clear sweetness moistened his belly and quickly flowed into his limbs and bones.

The aroma of the wine, the medicinal scent, and the sweetness of the goji berries entered his dantian together, blending and intertwining, causing a faint warmth.

Although the taste was slightly inferior to Lu Ya's Immortal Beer, these spirit grains, spirit herbs, and goji berries were all ranked immortal ingredients, not in the same league as the mundane wheat from the foot of the mountain.

With one gulp, Lu Ya felt refreshed and invigorated.

His back no longer ached, his legs were no longer numb, and the dark circles under his eyes gradually faded away.

Lu Ya was left wanting more, thinking that this woman really had some skills!

Please, bring me more goji berries like these.

I have no face to lose.

"Are you still feeling exhausted, Senior Brother?"

"Mm, much better."

Seeing that Lu Ya's fatigue had vanished, Ning Zhongzi's stern expression softened as she asked in a gentle voice:

"Can we discuss the upcoming plans for Azure Phoenix City now, Senior Brother?"

"Uh..."

This woman has been waiting for me here!

Lu Ya felt a sudden sense of foreboding. He drooped his eyes and clutched his forehead, saying:

"I'm still a bit sleepy. Can you let me sleep for a while longer?"

Ning Zhongzi remained composed and gave a slight nod.

"Then I shall go wake Muyu Feifei. It was rare for them to help out at the wedding banquet last night; they didn't return to rest until nearly dawn..."

Lu Ya also remained composed.

What a load of nonsense!

Do you think I don't know they were clamoring and making a scene to disrupt the bridal chamber?

Do you think I was exercising all night?

Without exposing her, Lu Ya let out a yawn and said:

"No need to wake them. I'll go sleep in your room."

"Sleep in my room?"

Ning Zhongzi's face flushed suddenly, then she frowned and said:

"That wouldn't be appropriate."

"What's inappropriate about it? Do you think it's a boudoir?"

"Aside from being injured or sick, do immortals even need to sleep?"

"You have no idea what I went through last night. Your goji berries can only relieve the fatigue of my body, not the exhaustion of my soul. I must be a salted... cough cough, I must rest."

For the sake of being a happy salted fish, Lu Ya retorted righteously, firing off his words like a barrage.

Exhaustion of the soul?

Ning Zhongzi wondered, do men really become lazy after getting married?

She could only sigh helplessly:

"I will lead you to rest, Senior Brother."

Lu Ya nodded.

He followed Ning Zhongzi to the herb garden in the east.

Outside the sleeping quarters lay over a dozen acres of herb gardens, planted with all manner of immortal flowers and spiritual herbs. Butterflies danced, insects chirped in the spring air, and the area was wreathed in immortal mist, filling the nose with fragrance.

In the garden stood a pavilion, and inside was a stone table and chairs.

The stone table was carved with a chessboard, set with black and white pieces—Ning Zhongzi explained that she used them to awaken the intelligence and train the thinking of Muyu Feifei back in the day.

This scenery.

This atmosphere.

This was likely the most comfortable place to live in the Bamboo Spring Sect!

Having no heart for sightseeing, Lu Ya pushed open the bamboo door of the sleeping quarters and dove straight into Ning Zhongzi's bedroom.

It was no different from Liu Xuanye's sleeping quarters: antique, cold, and desolate.

He sprawled out on the bamboo bed with effortless ease.

Lu Ya pillowed his head on his arms and crossed his legs, the gentle breeze bringing with it the faint scent of herbs.

"Senior Sister really knows how to enjoy life."

Ning Zhongzi lowered her head slightly, her beautiful face tinged with a faint blush, her hands unsure of where to rest.

Muyu Feifei slept on this bed most of the time; she herself hadn't lain on a bed in decades.

This was the first time a man had ever slept on her bed.

Yet, there was none of the ambiguous atmosphere she had imagined; he was simply sprawled lazily on her bed...

Senior Brother, isn't this a bit too focused on health preservation?

Knowing she couldn't sway Lu Ya, Ning Zhongzi stood coldly by the bedside, saying nothing, giving off the vibe of "I'll just watch you sleep in silence."

Lu Ya crossed his legs and said:

"You can go now, Senior Sister."

Ning Zhongzi kept a straight face and remained silent.

"Senior Sister, you really can go now. If those two brats see us like this, they'll start gossiping."

Ning Zhongzi's face flushed slightly, but she remained silent.

"Senior Sister, let me tell you a secret—I have a habit of killing people in my dreams!"

Ning Zhongzi's chest heaved slightly, yet she still said nothing.

She's actually kind of cute. Fine, you win.

Lu Ya's skin, thick as a city wall, finally began to soften.

On second thought, having accepted her gifts, drunk her fatigue-relieving wine, and even climbed into her bed, it would be unreasonable not to help her out.

Besides, the grand undertaking of building a city was quite an interesting prospect.

In this life, he never wanted to be like the heroes in games, venturing out every day to find excitement. It would be best if interesting things came to him, allowing him to develop industries like gourmet food, entertainment, and gaming. That way, he could experience a happy life without ever stepping outside.

Thinking this, Lu Ya straightened up, sat cross-legged, and put on a look of solemn righteousness.

"How is the progress on the city construction?"

Her bright eyes widened slightly, and only then did Ning Zhongzi speak respectfully.

"Replying to Senior Brother, many local immortal citizens have already written to their families to return, and most of the drifters from outside have registered their households and left blood-stained fingerprints. The registered population of Azure Phoenix City has already exceeded fifteen hundred."

Lu Ya nodded slightly.

"Isn't that quite good?"

"Following your plan, Senior Brother, I have hired ten craftsmen to begin building rows of bamboo shops along the cliff edge, ten zhang away from the wedding banquet site. We plan for thirty units, each three stories high with dual-facing entrances. They should be completed within three days."

"You've worked hard, Senior Sister."

"Does Senior Brother have a clear plan for what comes next?"

Since he didn't have to do the manual labor himself, he could just make up a plan on the fly.

After a rough calculation, Lu Ya feigned seriousness and said:

"To build a successful immortal city, we must grasp three points."

"I am eager to hear the details."

"First, the Bamboo Spring Sect will fund the construction of a large-scale bar... cough, a large-scale tavern, offering a one-stop service for gourmet food, fine wine, and lodging."

Ning Zhongzi frowned slightly.

"Who will be in charge of the cooking and brewing? Most people don't possess your exquisite skills, Senior Brother."

Glancing at Ning Zhongzi's expectant eyes, Lu Ya suddenly felt immense pressure.

This woman is truly wicked; she's setting traps for me everywhere. She is the nemesis of my salted-fish lifestyle!

Lu Ya wouldn't fall for such a petty trick.

"Go to East Floating City and hire a few Immortal Lord-level chefs at a high salary. Once they return and sign the contracts, I have my own ways to bring them up to eighty percent of my level."

Ning Zhongzi nodded slightly.

"Understood."

"Second, the Bamboo Spring Sect will fund agriculture and animal husbandry."

"Since we are just starting, we cannot let the immortal citizens take the risks. The Bamboo Spring Sect will act as the landlord, hiring them at high wages to farm and raise livestock. Later on, we can lease the land for them to manage themselves."

"However, we must plant graded Immortal Wheat and Immortal Grain, and the chickens, ducks, cows, and sheep we raise must also be graded immortal beasts—at least at the Immortal Lord level. Only then will there be profit, and only then will it attract people from outside."

Ning Zhongzi was startled by Lu Ya's grand plan.

"All immortal plants and immortal beasts?"

"All of them."

"But can the spiritual energy and soil of Floating Mountain support the growth of so many immortal spirits?"

Lu Ya had naturally considered this.

"It's still a bit lacking. You should dig eight irrigation canals around Floating Mountain, one zhang wide and one zhang deep, extending all the way to the edge of the mountain."

"Then, prepare plenty of fertilizer. I will give you a formula later. Once you've mixed the medicine, release it into the mountain springs to flow down; it will promote the growth of the spiritual plants."

"But preparing the medicine also requires a large amount of raw materials. The Bamboo Spring Sect's resources won't last until the harvest."

Lu Ya was well-prepared; he took out all the spoils he had looted from Black Lotus's spatial ring.

"There are many valuable treasures in Yunzhongzi's spatial ring that I don't need for now. Take them and sell them to exchange for the necessary medicinal materials."

Ning Zhongzi was slightly shocked.

"This is your personal gain, earned by risking your life, Senior Brother. How can you just hand it over so easily?"

Risking my life, my foot!

Lu Ya was prepared to cast a long line to catch a big fish.

"Consider it my private equity."

Ning Zhongzi suddenly bit her red lip and whispered:

"There are no private shares left; now, the entire Floating Mountain belongs to Senior Brother and the Sect Master."

Lu Ya was stunned for a moment.

Your logic is so sound that I find myself speechless.

This woman constantly spurred him on, gifting him this and that, even handing over the entire sect, all because she wanted him to shoulder the responsibility and strive for the development of the Bamboo Spring Sect.

She was truly a formidable rival on his path to becoming a salted fish!

What to do?

Should he kill her?

Ahem.

Considering she had dedicated three thousand years to Liu Xuanye, he would spare her life.

Lu Ya continued his analysis:

"Third, we must establish an effective security system for the immortal citizens."

"The Protective Bamboo Slip can only provide simple self-defense; it cannot protect fields, livestock, or shops. We need to build an army to resist beast tides and harassment from unscrupulous rogue immortals, ensuring the safety of the immortal citizens' property."

"With Senior Brother here, would any rogue immortal dare to come and cause trouble?"

"What kind of talk is that? Do I not need to sleep?"

Ning Zhongzi:

"..."

I still need to rely on beast tides or rogue immortal invasions to make a fortune, Lu Ya thought. Don't overhype my strength and scare all the enemies away.

"I mean, as the City Lord of Azure Phoenix City, how could I personally step into the fray?"

Ning Zhongzi's willow brows twitched.

You actually still remember you are the City Lord of Azure Phoenix City!

"Senior Brother doesn't need to do it yourself. You can lead the formation of a city guard, teach the immortal citizens how to fight, improve their cultivation, and impart your skills to them. That way, you can solve the problem once and for all and enjoy a relaxed life."

Solve it once and for all?

Sorry, I only want the "for all" part, not the "once" part.

I've already been grinding in this game for five years; I'm practically going bald.

You still want to trick me into taking disciples and training troops?

Not happening.

Lu Ya's expression darkened slightly.

"There will be someone to lead the training, but it won't be me."

Ning Zhongzi asked, puzzled:

"Besides you, Senior Brother, who could shoulder such a heavy responsibility?"

"A tool."

Lu Ya looked meaningfully toward the sky outside the window.

Just then—

A tipsy female voice enveloped the Bamboo Spring Sect.

It was like a tsunami of wine, the waves crashing directly against the mountaintop.

"To think you dared to do such a thing to my sister Xuanye!"

"Even I haven't... Unforgivable! Unpardonable!"

"Where is Lu Ya? Get your ass out here right now!"

Ning Zhongzi's willow brows twitched, and just as she was about to go out and drive the guest away, she saw Lu Ya raise his hand in a beckoning gesture.

"You'd better roll in yourself."

In an instant—

On the Giant Gourd hovering above the Bamboo Spring Sect, a woman wearing coarse robes with a fair chest exposed was suddenly grabbed by an irresistible, terrifying force. Her feet slipped, and she tumbled down from the sky.

Her petite figure spun and flipped through the air, streaking over the medicinal garden before rolling into Ning Zhongzi's room.

In the blink of an eye, she landed on a bamboo bed.

Before she could even react, a refined and easygoing man sat cross-legged beside her, smiling:

"Hello, I am Lu Ya. The organization has an important mission to entrust to you."