Shi Luo Ye

Chapter 843 Lu Qi

The next day, a Flood Dragon boat landed at Snow Region Heavenly Pool. Two eleventh-realm Sword Cultivators from the Mohist Ancestral Hall escorted Xu Shuo, who had fallen to the tenth realm, off the spiritual boat. Lin Zhao, leading Xu Zhi, Huang Tingyu, Chu Yu, Liu Liying, and others, met them at the foot of the mountain. They then ascended together. The main hall of the peak villa, the Natural Abode, was where distinguished guests were received, signifying utmost respect.

At this moment, Xu Shuo, clad in a cyan long robe, appeared rather frail, still recovering from his realm fall. However, the Mohist Patriarch had fully entrusted him with the matters of "building White City" at Snow Region Heavenly Pool, demonstrating great reliance. This meant that despite his fall to the tenth realm, Xu Shuo's status within the Mohist Ancestral Hall had risen significantly, even to the point of being seen as the next Patriarch.

After all, the Mohist Ancestral Hall not only valued cultivation in realms, mechanisms, and formations, but also achievements. Xu Shuo's accomplishment with the Dinghai Great Formation alone was enough to place him among the Mohist Ancestral Hall's younger generation of disciples.

"Second Brother Xu."

On the mountain path, Lin Zhao glanced at Xu Shuo and said, "Logically speaking, although you've fallen in realm, as long as you have spiritual energy and treasures, you should quickly return to the eleventh realm. Why do you seem so unwell?"

Xu Shuo replied dejectedly, "It's not that easy. My previous breakthrough relied on favorable timing and location. My state of mind has been a bit turbulent lately. Gu Yanshu's sword strike caused significant damage to my mental state, and I doubt I can return to the upper five realms anytime soon."

Just then, Xu Shuo looked into the distance. He saw a young sword cultivator in a deep purple long robe, carrying the Xunlu Sword on his back and sweeping fallen leaves from the mountain path with a broom. Xu Shuo frowned, and a surge of killing intent involuntarily welled up.

"Enough," Lin Zhao said. "He's only at the first realm now. You can kill him, if it can mend the flaws in your state of mind."

"Forget it," Xu Shuo said with a wry smile. "I want to kill Gu Yanshu at the twelfth realm. Otherwise, it's meaningless."

"Let's go to the Natural Abode for tea and talk slowly."

"Alright."

...

Inside the Natural Abode.

Liu Liying brewed tea, while Lin Zhao and Xu Shuo sat opposite each other. Only Xu Zhi and Huang Tingyu were by their side. Apart from Liu Liying, who was serving tea, and Xu Shuo, everyone else present was a key figure in Snow Region Heavenly Pool's decisions.

Xu Shuo stood up and spread a new blueprint on the table. "I've seen your draft of White City. The overall defensive fortifications are indeed good, but some of the mechanisms and formations within need revision. This is the new map I drew overnight. If you truly want this White City to withstand the demon race's vast army, you can only follow my design."

"Oh?"

Lin Zhao immediately stood up and carefully examined Xu Shuo's map. It was indeed much more professional. The height of each section of the city wall, the hidden formation lines to be buried beneath the walls, and other details were all clearly drawn. The city's height, the formations in the barbicans, and so on, were all marked. Even the suitable locations for building fortresses within the city were accounted for. The overall layout of White City also integrated with the Juque Umbrella Great Formation, peeling away layers of the formation. It was like an onion; breaching the first layer of defense would lead to the second, then the third, and the fourth. It would be exceedingly difficult to truly level White City.

"Feasible?" Xu Shuo asked.

"Yes," Lin Zhao nodded emphatically. "It's much better than I imagined!"

"Building this White City will be incredibly expensive," Xu Shuo said solemnly. "My master and several elders discussed it overnight. Even if our Mohist Ancestral Hall provides labor for free, the construction of White City will still cost nearly four hundred thousand Jinzizhu coins. This is an enormous sum. Lin Zhao, are you sure the Peak Villa can afford it?"

"Ah, four hundred thousand?" Liu Liying and Xu Zhi were both astonished.

Old Huang frowned and calculated on his fingers, "Four hundred thousand Jinzizhu coins. How many wives could that buy?"

"Four hundred thousand it is, then," Lin Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "Second Brother Xu, how about this: Our Peak Villa has a spiritual stone mine in the Luoyan Mountain area in cooperation with the Mohist Ancestral Hall. The previous survey by Mohist cultivators indicated that the mineral veins are deep and exceed previous estimates, likely producing over a million Jinzizhu coins. So, our Peak Villa will use this spiritual stone mine as collateral, valued at two hundred thousand Jinzizhu coins. For the remaining two hundred thousand, we will pay in installments, with the Peak Villa paying the Mohist Ancestral Hall ten thousand Jinzizhu coins annually for twenty years. How does that sound?"

"Ah?" Xu Shuo blinked. "You mean... the Mohist Ancestral Hall will provide labor and resources to help you build White City, and then your Peak Villa will repay it slowly, is that right?"

"Yes."

"Do you think that's reasonable?" Xu Shuo asked with a smile.

Lin Zhao frowned, a bit embarrassed. "I know it's a bit much, but I can't help it. I have a feeling the demon race is still plotting something huge. If Snow Region Heavenly Pool isn't strong enough, it might not be able to face that change in the future. After all, Snow Region Heavenly Pool's location is too important, right under the demons' noses. It's a city they can't bypass. If the demons march south and bypass Snow Region Heavenly Pool, Snow Region Heavenly Pool can take them by surprise and flatten their ancestral mountain. Therefore, building White City is beneficial to the entire human race, both in principle and in reason."

"Understood." Xu Shuo took a deep breath. "The Mohist Ancestral Hall can indeed advance this large sum, especially since that spiritual stone mine has earned us a lot. As for the annual ten thousand Jinzizhu coins, those will indeed have to be paid on time."

"Understood." Lin Zhao looked at Liu Liying. "Liying, how much Jinzizhu coin does our Peak Villa have left?"

"A little over fifteen thousand," Liu Liying replied.

"Good." Lin Zhao nodded. "Immediately allocate ten thousand Jinzizhu coins to Sword Immortal Xu. The reconstruction of White City should not be delayed. Second Brother Xu, you understand my intention, right?"

"Understood." Xu Shuo accepted a heavy money bag from Liu Liying. "I will return to the Mohist Ancestral Hall immediately to select artisans and prepare construction materials. The Mohist Ancestral Hall's Kunpeng Immortal Boat will arrive at Snow Region Heavenly Pool by tomorrow morning at the earliest, and by tomorrow evening at the latest. Lin Zhao, keep this blueprint. Clear the trees, weeds, and rocks around the designated city wall locations first. Have your people do it."

"Alright," Lin Zhao nodded.

Immediately, Xu Shuo left for the Mohist Ancestral Hall without even having a sip of tea.

...

The next day, in the morning.

A Kunpeng Immortal Boat descended above Snow Region Heavenly Pool. Xu Zhi opened the Juque Umbrella Great Formation and only reactivated it after the Kunpeng Immortal Boat had fully landed. Instantly, the golden sword qi prohibitions of the Juque Umbrella Great Formation soared into the sky, enveloping the massive Immortal Boat. From the Immortal Boat, a large number of Mohist cultivators disembarked, carrying construction materials.

Lin Zhao, accompanied by Xu Zhi, Huang Tingyu, Tang Guangjun, Chen Ben, Chu Yu, Yu Wanling, Mu Zha, and other important figures from the Peak Villa, went to greet them. As everyone watched, Xu Shuo, who was in charge of White City's construction and appeared frail, gracefully descended from the Immortal Boat. Accompanying him was a plump middle-aged cultivator in a grey short shirt, carrying a section of an object covered with black cloth on his back, which did not look like a long sword.

"Let me introduce you," Xu Shuo said solemnly. "This is my senior brother, Lu Qi. I will be overseeing the construction of the city throughout this project. My master has assigned my senior brother to oversee it. After all, my senior brother has a higher realm and is stronger in combat."

"Oh?" Mu Zha looked at Lu Qi. This fat guy is really strong in combat?!

Tang Guangjun's heart sank. He sent a mental message to Lin Zhao: "Mountain Master, this fatty is extraordinary. Lu Qi, the most formidable among the younger generation of the Daoist Ancestral Hall. Legend has it that the three sections of the spear he carries on his back are the saint's遗物 Lihua Spear. His spear technique is renowned as supreme under heaven. Throughout history, Lu Qi ranks first among the Mohist wandering knights. Coupled with the saint's遗物 Lihua Spear, he is known as the 'Saint Spear Wandering Knight' in the martial world. He is at the peak of the thirteenth realm. In terms of combat power within the Mohist Ancestral Hall, apart from the Patriarch, he is the strongest."

"Ah?!" Lin Zhao was stunned. He hadn't expected this unassuming fatty to be at the peak of the thirteenth realm. He immediately bowed respectfully, "Lin Zhao of Peak Villa pays respects to Immortal Master Lu!"

Lu Qi smiled and nodded. "Mountain Master, you are too kind. I am here at Snow Region Heavenly Pool purely to protect my second brother. So, Mountain Master, please don't be too formal and don't worry about me, Lu Qi."

"Alright," Lin Zhao looked at the busy Mohist cultivators in the distance and then at the sky. "It's almost noon. Second Brother Xu, Immortal Master Lu, please come up to the mountain. Shall we have lunch before continuing?"

"Alright," Xu Shuo said with a smile. "Starting today, it will be a period of hardship. Let's have a drink at lunch to reward ourselves. Consider it a toast to our commencement."

"It's only right," Lin Zhao said with a smile.

...

In the afternoon.

After eating and drinking their fill, Xu Shuo sat in the living room of the Natural Abode. Mohist cultivators kept coming up the mountain with blueprints, affectionately calling him Second Senior Brother, and showing him their newly drawn designs for his approval. In reality, Xu Shuo couldn't remember any of his disciples' faces. Fortunately, he recognized the blueprints and guided them one by one, overseeing the grand scheme of White City's construction.

Outside the Natural Abode, Lu Qi, with a burp, looked at Dong Zang, who was washing dishes. He sat down on a tree stump, looking round and plump. The breeze blew, rustling his robes, but he had no trace of an immortal aura. Looking at Dong Zang, he said with a smile, "I've traveled the martial world for a long time, but among apricot maidens, there are few who possess Miss Dong Zang's demeanor and unparalleled beauty."

"Ah?" Dong Zang was startled. She smiled, her dimples showing. "It's Immortal Master Lu. Immortal Master Lu flatters me. I'm nowhere near as good as you say."

"Oh yes, you are," Lu Qi grinned. "Does Miss Dong Zang know about the legend of love at first sight? It's that feeling when..." He gestured towards the apricot grove not far away. "The flowers are beautiful, the trees are beautiful, but none are as beautiful as you."

"Ah?" Dong Zang was filled with panic. She dropped the bowls and with a swift movement, rushed into the kitchen to prepare the edamame for the evening meal.

Lu Qi turned and looked at Xu Zhi.

"Hmm?" Xu Zhi, who was sitting by the lotus pond, cultivating her sword intent, couldn't help but frown. Glancing at the plump man's gaze, she felt a premonition of trouble. It seemed the legends were true; this fellow was indeed that kind of person!

Lu Qi stood up and said with a smile, "I've long heard that my second brother has a beloved mortal woman sword immortal. Seeing her today, she is indeed extraordinary. Sword Immortal Xu Zhi's appearance and figure are truly top-tier in the mortal world."

"Cough, cough..." Xu Zhi felt a bit awkward. "Immortal Master Lu, please exercise restraint!"