Go All Out, Launch a Satellite

Having dealt with the Wine Fox Immortal and shooed away Ning Zhongzi, Lu Ya sighed at how hard-won his life of leisure was.

Pillowing his head on his spirit sword, draped in the dappled sunlight spilling through the window, he drifted off to sleep in style.

Ten days flashed by.

During these ten days.

Lu Ya did not take a single step down the mountain, spending his time essentially eating, drinking, sleeping, fishing, soaking in the Bone-Eroding Hot Spring, and zoning out...

He ate Roasted Immortal Fish.

He drank Immortal Rice Brew.

He slept in a woman's bed.

He soaked in a woman's spring.

He fished with a straight hook.

The Bamboo Spring Sect was rich in spiritual energy with breathtaking scenery; there was the babbling of flowing water, the company of beautiful women, and the Bone-Eroding Hot Spring. The pace was leisurely, and his life was truly comfortable.

During these ten days.

Lu Ya wrote a max-level Immortal Fertilizer formula for Ning Zhongzi, attempting to concoct the most perfect fertilizer using the cheapest medicinal herbs to nourish the Immortal Spirit.

He also brought out several max-level seasoning recipes, which, through Ning Zhongzi's meticulous preparation and the chef's exquisite culinary skills, could achieve about eighty percent of his own level.

During these ten days.

The Wine Fox Immortal entered and exited the Beast Nest Forest multiple times, bringing back quite a few rogue immortals to join the City Guard. Using this as a merit, she ran over to Lu Ya repeatedly to ask for high-grade bamboo slips, incidentally asking him to help heal her wounds.

Help you heal?

You flirtatious fox, you want to cuckold me, and I'm supposed to heal you?

Not a chance.

"Go find some stronger rogue immortals."

"..."

During these ten days.

While soaking in the hot spring, Lu Ya often encountered Liu Xuanye bathing in the adjacent pool. The two would chat blandly about life and ideals, and occasionally, he would receive an invitation for dual cultivation from Liu Xuanye.

Dual cultivation?

You dare bring up dual cultivation to me?

"City affairs have been busy lately, and my body is a bit weak. Could you let me recuperate for a few years first?"

"..."

During these ten days.

Following Lu Ya's plan, Ning Zhongzi worked diligently and methodically to push forward the great cause of city-building, achieving impressive results. During this period, she wanted to ask Lu Ya for more details several times.

She ended up being dismissed by Lu Ya with a single sentence.

"Senior Sister, you are a mature woman now; you should learn to think and act for yourself."

"..."

During these ten days.

When Lu Ya was fishing by the lake, Muyu Feifei would always pester him to roast fish for her.

Lu Ya thought to himself, if this continues, won't I just become a nanny for two bratty kids?

He said:

"You two have no skills, and all you know is eating, eating, and eating all day long. Go learn some martial arts from Lady Wine Fox. If one day you can defeat even one of my Hair Clone, I will make you whatever you want to eat."

Win against one of your hairs?

This is a freebie!

The two girls were overjoyed, nearly moved to tears.

"Is that for real?"

"For real."

"If we want to eat that legendary giant fish that flies in the sky of the Beast Nest Forest, will you roast that too?"

"I will."

"Junior Uncle, you're the best!"

"We want to challenge your hair right now!"

By the bamboo forest lake, the two girls rubbed their palms and fists, let out a howl, and transformed into massive tiger forms, lunging at Lu Ya in unison.

They were promptly beaten black and blue by Lu Ya's Hair Clone—a cold-faced, five-year-old mini Lu Ya who still smelled of mother's milk.

Lying miserably on a giant rock by the lake, watching Lu Ya fishing leisurely, the two girls wailed:

"Damn it, why is his hair so strong?"

"Is a dignified Tiger Immortal worth less than a single hair?"

"I want to become stronger!"

"I want to eat big fish!"

Ten days later.

It was a crisp, clear autumn morning with bright sunshine.

Lu Ya stepped out of the Bamboo Cottage and stretched his back with a long yawn.

Being a salted fish for too long was actually tiring!

Experiments proved that one really does get tired after being a salted fish for too long.

Monotony, repetition, muscle atrophy...

It seemed he needed to get Azure Phoenix City up and running as soon as possible.

Only a life with novelty could bring happiness.

A happy salted fish is the only true salted fish.

He didn't want to be like a hero in a game anymore, going out on adventures to find joy; it would be best if interesting things came to his doorstep to entertain him.

By developing fresh industries like gourmet food, entertainment, sports, and games, he could experience a happy life without ever stepping out of his home.

Thinking this, Lu Ya strode down the mountain, prepared to guide and supervise the development of Azure Phoenix City.

Seeing Lu Ya, Ning Zhongzi was overjoyed, though she kept her pretty face slightly taut, saying calmly:

"Has Senior Brother rested well?"

Lu Ya yawned and said:

"Mm, I'm tired from resting."

Ning Zhongzi's beautiful face froze, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.

Interestingly, Lu Ya had rested for ten days, yet his steps were unsteady and his complexion was sluggish.

Ning Zhongzi had been busy running around, pushing forward the city-building efforts for ten straight days, yet her complexion was excellent.

Even her expression was not as stern as before; in her green robes, she looked ethereal, and her full, graceful gait carried an indescribable sense of rhythm.

Following behind Ning Zhongzi, Lu Ya toured the eight new thoroughfares opened on the Floating Mountain.

Eight long rivers had been dug from the foot of the mountain to the edge of the Floating Mountain, flowing into the base of the mountain to soak the bedrock and enter the water cycle.

On both sides of the eight rivers were neat fields of grain, wheat, and vegetable plots planted with melons and greens.

Most of these were precious Immortal Spirit varieties, currently still green, budding sprouts.

Behind the fields, several pastures were separated by fences, mainly raising wild chickens, wild boars, and black sheep.

The price of young Immortal Spirit livestock was very high, so the initial pastures were small, housing only a few hundred spirit beasts.

These fields and pastures were the resources of the Bamboo Spring Sect.

Over a thousand people were working in the fields and pastures.

The original villages at the foot of the mountain had been demolished, and the Bamboo Spring Sect had uniformly built rows of Bamboo Cottage units along the river.

The Bamboo Cottage units were as beautiful as villas, with peach and willow trees transplanted by the river, private vegetable plots developed for the Immortal Commoner, and ordinary poultry and livestock raised.

The Immortal Commoner lived and worked in peace and contentment, possessing private fertile land and beautiful homes, with work provided by the sect.

Whether they were local Immortal Commoner or refugees from afar, their faces were filled with joyful smiles.

Seeing Lu Ya arrive, everyone, regardless of age or gender, stopped their farm work.

"Greetings, Elder Lu."

"Elder Lu, you have finally come down the mountain."

"Elder Lu, try the melons I grew."

Lu Ya nodded, not hesitating, and casually picked two long, crisp, tender cucumbers.

A purely natural product, no washing required; one bite was sweet, crisp, and refreshing—indescribable.

"Such a crisp melon, does Senior Sister want one?"

"..."

After the tour, Ning Zhongzi gave Lu Ya a rough report on the work progress over the past ten days.

"Currently, the number of Immortal Commoner registered to settle in Azure Phoenix City has exceeded two thousand, and the number is increasing daily. It is expected that in two months, we will be able to attract ten thousand refugees to move in, completing the task ahead of schedule."

"Not bad."

"Thanks to Senior Brother's plan and the Immortal Fertilizer formula, the total land currently under cultivation and animal husbandry accounts for about ten percent of the Floating Mountain's total land, mainly planting tiered Immortal Wheat and Immortal Grain, and the livestock raised are also tiered Immortal Spirit livestock."

"Very good."

"But with the Bamboo Spring Sect's current resource reserves, this situation can only be sustained for one month."

Ning Zhongzi recounted the facts calmly, not a hint of worry in her eyes.

Lu Ya was a bit dazed.

"It takes two months to gather ten thousand people, but we can only hold out for one... Isn't this a huge problem? How are you not nervous at all?"

Ning Zhongzi stood with her hands behind her back, composed and relaxed.

"Since the plan was set by Senior Brother, you must have already prepared a contingency."

Lu Ya choked on his words.

He had no contingency whatsoever; he had come up with this plan ten days ago on a whim just to get some rest and send Ning Zhongzi away.

However, things had reached this point, and he could not wash his hands of it, so he could only offer a faint smile.

"I have my own ways."

Next.

The two arrived at the newly built main city of Azure Phoenix City.

The location was the very spot where the wedding ceremony had been held ten days prior.

Along the edge of the Floating Mountain cliff, a row of tall, interconnected Bamboo Cottage shops had been constructed, totaling thirty units in the initial phase.

Each shop was three stories high, with front and back entrances, each floor spanning two to three zhang, reaching a total height of ten zhang—much taller than the residential houses.

The decor, featuring a palette of bamboo green and vermilion, bathed in the warm glow of the morning sun, looked antique and magnificent.

The shop in the very center was particularly spacious and grand.

Occupying dozens of mu, the third floor contained over a hundred private rooms, the second floor had dozens of dining booths of various sizes, and the first floor was a grand hall. In summer, it would serve barbecue and Immortal Beer, while in winter, it would feature hot pot and rice wine, with a massive bonfire plaza in front.

According to Ning Zhongzi's introduction, this was a gourmet complex operated by the Bamboo Spring Sect, named—

Yuelai Inn!

Lu Ya felt as if he had heard that name somewhere before.

"Yuelai Inn... who came up with that name?"

"Was it not Senior Brother?"

"Did I?"

"Senior Brother was half-asleep when you named it."

"And you just went along with it?"

"I figured whatever Senior Brother said could not be wrong."

"..."

Lu Ya choked on his words.

This woman had a bright future.

Afterward, Ning Zhongzi led Lu Ya into Yuelai Inn to meet the three managers of the establishment.

One was a middle-aged woman dressed in a flamboyant style with a bone-chilling gaze.

One was a slightly plump young man with an unyielding look in his eyes.

The third was a local woman.

Ning Zhongzi introduced them in turn:

"This is our sect's Sword-Wielding Elder, Lu Ya. This is the innkeeper, Yun Xiangyu; the head chef, Yuan Zhou; and the logistics manager, Aunt Xinghua."

Lu Ya was munching on a crisp melon.

With a quick glance, he saw the flamboyant woman was a one-star Immortal Master, the slightly plump man was a Seven Star Immortal Monarch, and Aunt Xinghua was a well-known shrew from Clear Spring Village.

It seemed Ning Zhongzi had spent quite a bit of money to hire them.

"Thank you all for your hard work."

The three had long heard of Lu Ya's exploits and had tested his Protective Bamboo Slip and seasonings, so they now wore respectful expressions and bowed in unison:

"Greetings, Elder Lu."

On a nearby table sat a large platter of Golden Egg Fried Rice, emitting a faint glow.

Yun Xiangyu glanced at Lu Ya, and seeing he was a handsome youth, a charming smile bloomed on her face.

"Please, Elder Lu, offer your critique."

The steaming Golden Egg Fried Rice was served on a white porcelain plate, spread out in a golden layer.

The aroma of the eggs mixed with the intensified fragrance of the heated rice; every grain was coated in egg, separated, and golden, piled loosely together like the golden harvest of autumn rice.

This was a recipe Lu Ya had written down casually.

The inspiration came from some book, movie, or anime from his past life, prepared with seasonings Ning Zhongzi had meticulously crafted according to his max-level formula.

Lu Ya's appetite was whetted; pretending to be casual while actually finding it truly delicious, he finished every last bite.

The three of them watched him with nervous expressions.

"Hmm, not bad. Young man, you have quite the vision. Learn from me how to... ahem, never mind. You can teach yourself as well; I have high hopes for you."

Having taken his gifts and eaten his food, Lu Ya showered this young man named Yuan Zhou with lavish praise.

Though called a young man, Yuan Zhou was already over a thousand years old and held the title of Seven Star Immortal Monarch.

It was said he was a disgraced alchemy disciple from some sect, but his true ambition lay not in alchemy, but in the culinary arts.

Receiving Lu Ya's praise, Yuan Zhou showed no signs of joy, instead bowing deeply once more.

"It is thanks to Elder Lu's seasoning that it turned out this way, but this junior still feels something is missing. I humbly ask for your guidance."

Lu Ya nodded.

This lad was humble and possessed considerable insight.

"Technically speaking, your culinary skills are already beyond reproach, but they lack soul. You need to pour more emotion into your cooking, to make people feel a sense of soul-shattering melancholy when they eat it. Do you understand?"

"This junior is shallow in knowledge and cannot yet grasp your meaning."

"Take your time."

"Yes."

Soul-shattering melancholy?

Watching Lu Ya's tall, straight back as he walked away, Yuan Zhou thought of his status as the Sect Master's partner and fell into deep contemplation.

Stepping out of Yuelai Inn.

The two headed north, walking toward the martial arts arena built by the Wine Fox Immortal.

Along the way, Ning Zhongzi continued her report.

"Currently, the meals provided by the inn are free for the Immortal Commoner, and we have yet to host any immortals."

Lu Ya frowned.

"Did you go to East Floating City to promote it?"

"We did, but the results were negligible."

"The current city-building plan is a great draw for refugees, but our spirit livestock require half a year before they can be slaughtered, and the Immortal Wheat and Immortal Grain will take at least two months to mature. For rogue immortals, there is currently no significant appeal."

Lu Ya grasped the gravity of the problem.

"In other words, the inn cannot turn a profit, and our resources won't last two months. Without an additional plan, Azure Phoenix City will collapse in a month."

Ning Zhongzi nodded.

"That is exactly the case."

Only then did Lu Ya realize that the plan he had casually set was far too aggressive; pushing for rapid, large-scale results was simply impractical.

But the plan was already in motion, and there was no turning back.

Lu Ya was not one to shrink from a challenge.

"In any case, we must get the business for immortals up and running as soon as possible. Only with profit can we develop."

"I await your guidance, Senior Brother."

"Let's go see what's ahead."