《Fairy, Please Forgive Me, I Never Meant to Impersonate Your Husband》 Chapter 1 - The Horn from the Depths of the Galaxy Chapter 1: The Horn from the Depths of the Galaxy Wu Yuan lay face-down in the mud, a brawny bodyguard pinning him underfoot. He could only tilt his head up stubbornly, glaring at the elegant young master Bai Zizheng, who had effortlessly crushed him under his shoe yet couldn¡¯t even be bothered to glance down at him. Bai Zizheng stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance as if speaking to no one in particular. ¡°I know you think you¡¯re innocent, but in this world, great calamities start from small risks. Preventing trouble before it arises has always been my principle.¡± ¡°Yesterday, you gave Li Xinwei an umbrella. Today, you¡¯d ask her to dinner. Tomorrow, you might try to take things further. In a few days, who knows? Maybe you¡¯d even dare to dream of eating swan meat.¡± ¡°Though we¡¯re classmates, Li Xinwei¡ªshe¡¯s not someone you can covet.¡± Wu Yuan¡¯s face burned red¡ªpartly from the pressure on his back, partly from sheer fury. Bai¡¯s accusations were baseless. He couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. ¡°Enough, Bai Zizheng! Not everyone worships Li Xinwei like you do! I¡¯ll say it again¡ªI gave her an umbrella because it was raining yesterday, she didn¡¯t have one, and I happened to have two in the office¡ª¡± ¡°You expect me to believe that?¡± Bai Zizheng finally turned his head, his handsome face twisted in a cold sneer. The more Wu Yuan defended himself, the angrier Bai became. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you believe me. Don¡¯t think just because your family has money and power, you can do whatever you want¡ª¡± Wu Yuan¡¯s voice grew louder, his rage swelling in his chest. And then¡ª The resistance he had been holding back erupted. With a sudden burst of strength, he broke free from the bodyguard¡¯s hold and lunged at Bai Zizheng. His hands were already in motion¡ªone clawing, the other swinging a fist¡ªaiming straight for the back of Bai¡¯s head, that same smug head he had endured for four long years in university. The bodyguard was caught off guard. Bai Zizheng, even more so. The elegant young master¡¯s pristine image shattered in an instant. Dirt smeared his clothes. Worse¡ªWu Yuan grabbed him by the collar and landed three solid punches before anyone could react. A memory Bai Zizheng would never forget. ¡­ Of course, Wu Yuan paid for his rebellion. The bodyguard beat him mercilessly, leaving him bruised and battered. Luckily, the altercation happened in a public area, and it was still early evening. Bai Zizheng didn¡¯t dare let his bodyguard go too far¡ªotherwise, Wu Yuan might have left with broken limbs instead of just barely managing to stagger back to his rented apartment. The moment he closed the door, all his strength drained away. Pain surged from every inch of his body, but despite gritting his teeth, he smiled. Then the smile turned into laughter. Yes, he had been beaten¡ªbut he hadn¡¯t just taken it. He had fought back. For a man who had lived cautiously for twenty-six years, this was a breakthrough. Seeing Bai Zizheng¡¯s humiliated face after those three punches? Worth it. Such was the tragedy of small people. But because he saw himself as small, he also knew how to console himself. Too sore to move, Wu Yuan lay still, fiddling with his ¡°spoils of war.¡± During the scuffle, he had accidentally torn off a strange stone pendant hanging from Bai Zizheng¡¯s neck¡ªsomething between jade and rock, covered in cryptic symbols. In his fury, Bai hadn¡¯t noticed. Wu Yuan had pocketed it afterward. A trophy. Proof that even the weak could strike back. As he toyed with it, exhaustion overwhelmed him. Despite his growling stomach, sleep dragged him under. The night deepened, the full moon hanging high. Moonlight spilled onto the couch near the balcony. Then¡ª The light grew brighter, rippling like water. The bloodstains on Wu Yuan¡¯s left hand, still clutching the pendant, vanished as if absorbed by an unseen force. A faint, multicolored glow emanated from his fingers. A mist-like haze swirled around him, lifting his body until it floated half a meter above the couch. His sleeping face twisted with complex emotions, as if trapped in a long, intricate dream. Wu Yuan slept for a full day and night. When he opened his eyes, his first sensation wasn¡¯t hunger or pain¡ªbut an overwhelming fullness, as if his soul had been nourished. His injuries? Gone. Only the bloodstains on his clothes remained as proof. ¡°Was that a second rebirth¡­ or just two dreams?¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He checked the clock¡ªonly a day had passed. Then he stared at his left hand in disbelief. He never imagined he¡¯d have the luck of a protagonist in a novel. Bai Zizheng¡¯s pendant was no ordinary trinket. Somehow, it had activated, making him live through two lifetimes in a single night. One lasted 253 years. The other, 489 years. Every memory remained vivid. He had never remembered so much, so clearly. Was it just an ultra-realistic dream? Or had he truly relived two lives? Given his nature, he leaned toward the former¡ªbut the knowledge he gained was real. And with it, he knew exactly what to do next. Move. For reasons both immediate and future. ¡°I¡¯ll be back. And I¡¯ll find all the answers.¡± As he stepped out, the image of a certain smiling face flashed in his mind. His eyes carried a depth far beyond his years. After living centuries in a single night¡ªdream or not¡ªhow could he not be changed? His luggage was simple: a backpack with a few changes of clothes, his wallet, and ID. Everything else stayed behind. Time was too precious to waste on trivialities. As he left, his landlord, Uncle Xu¡ªa shrewd but kind man in his fifties¡ªstepped out with his Alaskan Malamute. ¡°Xiao Yuan, going on a trip?¡± Wu Yuan nodded. ¡°Uncle Xu, good timing. I¡¯m moving out. Keep the deposit. You can do whatever you want with the stuff inside.¡± Uncle Xu¡¯s face darkened, then softened into a sigh. ¡°Ah¡­ you already know? I thought you were hiding out today. Smart move. Some people¡­ we just can¡¯t afford to provoke. Take the garage exit, not the front door.¡± Wu Yuan understood. Bai Zizheng had sent men looking for him¡ªfirst for the pendant, second to vent his rage. But thanks to Uncle Xu and his dog, they hadn¡¯t gotten in. Under the cover of night, Wu Yuan slipped away unseen. In the distance, two figures loitered near his apartment building, their cigarette embers glowing. Wu Yuan smirked. For now, he¡¯d retreat. But with the knowledge he now possessed, crushing Bai Zizheng¡ªno, the entire Bai family¡ªwould be effortless. Patience. He turned and walked away, not as a defeated man, but one ready to conquer. Avoiding cameras, he zigzagged through streets before stopping at a small restaurant for a meal. Then, from a nearby store, he stocked up on compact, high-calorie food and water¡ªfilling his spare hiking bag with 500 yuan worth of supplies. Finally, he hailed a cab to the Xiguan Highway Service Area on the city¡¯s outskirts. When he arrived, the overcast sky cleared, moonlight bathing the empty lot. The driver gave him a strange look but drove off without question. Wu Yuan walked to the darkest corner of the parking lot, laid down a piece of cardboard, and sat. He waited. For the sound that would change everything. A horn¡ªlong, mournful, and mighty¡ªwould soon echo through the night. The beginning of Earth¡¯s transformation. The dawn of human evolution. If not for his future memories, he¡¯d never have come to this desolate place at such an hour. But he knew. This was where it would start. 2:00 AM. The wind carried a distant, growing sound. A horn. Ancient. Powerful. Unrelenting. As if calling warriors to battle. ¡°Finally. The horn from the depths of the galaxy.¡± Wu Yuan stood, fists clenched. No one could remain seated under that sound. It stirred the blood, demanding reverence¡ªlike soldiers standing at attention before war. For thirty minutes, the horn drowned out all other noise. Highway chaos erupted. Cities stirred in panic. But Wu Yuan¡¯s focus was elsewhere. A structure now stood twenty meters away¡ªa sleek, obsidian monolith, over ten meters tall, humming with energy. ¡°The Celestial Origin Stele!¡± As he approached, the stele¡¯s surface shimmered with intricate, glowing patterns. A holographic interface appeared before him. At its center¡ªa golden button. Without hesitation, Wu Yuan pressed it. Chapter 2 - The Celestial Origin Bracelet Chapter 2: The Celestial Origin Bracelet In the blink of an eye, a white jade cube¡ªshaped like an ordinary dice¡ªsurfaced before Wu Yuan. He grabbed it, feeling its solid weight in his palm. This was the Celestial Origin Terminal, just as his memories had foretold. And not just any terminal¡ªit was a high-tier model, one of the first batch released on Earth. White jade cubes represented Celestial Origin Bracelets. Gray cubes were lower-tier Celestial Origin Helmets. Tiny black crystal vortex marks on the surface indicated its rank. One vortex = one star. The more stars, the higher the grade. Both bracelets and helmets had 12 tiers, with 12 stars being the pinnacle. Wu Yuan¡¯s cube bore two vortex marks¡ªa 2-star bracelet. ¡°The second memory didn¡¯t lie,¡± he thought, suppressing a surge of triumph. ¡°Early birds get rewards.¡± Without hesitation, he bit his finger and let his blood drip onto the cube. The jade absorbed it like a sponge, leaving no trace. After about 20 milliliters, the cube glowed faintly, and the air around it shimmered. Then¡ª A weight settled around his right wrist. A jade-like bracelet had formed, seamless yet tangible. With a thought, it faded to invisibility. Another thought, and it reappeared. ¡°Incredible,¡± Wu Yuan murmured, hiding it again. Now wasn¡¯t the time to experiment. The terminal¡¯s full functions wouldn¡¯t activate for another month. But securing the 2-star bracelet marked his first critical step into the future. The Race Begins Earth¡¯s 7 billion people would soon awaken to the Celestial Origin Stele phenomenon. Nearly every city had multiple steles. Most would hesitate, but adventurers and the curious would seize the opportunity¡ªgaining a head start over the cautious masses. ¡°Time isn¡¯t on my side.¡± Governments would flip between panic, suppression, and eventual acceptance. By the time they endorsed the terminals publicly, a year would pass. Skeptics would lag 2-3 years behind, missing the early resource rush. Wu Yuan pitied them, but this was an era of survival of the swiftest. And he knew a loophole: Early applicants could claim multiple terminals from different steles¡ªno limits. The exploit would vanish once half of Earth¡¯s 3 billion terminals were distributed. ¡°No time to waste.¡± Terminal Hoarding At 2:30 AM, Wu Yuan boarded a southbound night bus, paying 50 yuan for a ride to another highway exit¡ªwhere a second stele awaited. (How did he know its location? Future memories. In 20 years, someone would map every stele¡¯s emergence point and activation time.) 3:10 AM: A 1-star bracelet from the second stele. (Rare enough¡ªonly 100,000 bracelets existed globally, with 2-star ones rarer than 1 in 100.) 4:00 AM: Third bracelet (1-star). 5:00 AM: Fourth (1-star). 6:00 AM: Fifth (1-star). 6:20 AM: A taxi boosted his efficiency. Over the next three hours, he hit five more steles¡ªbut only scored one additional bracelet. The rest were high-tier helmets. By now, crowds swarmed most steles. Chaos reigned¡ªfear, awe, confusion. Authorities began cordoning off steles, but their half-hearted efforts couldn¡¯t stop Wu Yuan. His tactic: Conceal his face, slip within 10 meters of a stele, claim a terminal, and vanish. Others did the same¡ªfuture trailblazers, though few in number, would reap disproportionate rewards. One Month Later Wu Yuan had: Burned through 100,000 yuan (his 3-year savings). Maxed out 50,000 yuan in credit card debt. Traversed half of Longxia Nation, targeting remote steles. Final haul: 320 helmets (80% high-tier). 50 bracelets (including four 2-star ones, counting his own). Luckily, unbound terminals stayed in lightweight cube form¡ªor he¡¯d never have carried them all. Now, with the Celestial Origin World¡¯s launch imminent, he stopped. ¡°More terminals will come later¡ªbut I need to prepare for the real battle.¡± A New Base: Dragon City Wu Yuan relocated to Dragon City, Longxia¡¯s economic hub¡ªa thousand kilometers from his former workplace. (Why?) Population density: A future stage for rising elites. Lawful veneer: Perfect to hide in plain sight. His second life¡¯s mistake had been hiding in the wilderness¡ªlack of defenses, shallow strategies. This time, he¡¯d mask his growth in the city¡¯s chaos. Final Preparations Rented an apartment near downtown (40,000 yuan deposit + rent). S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Spent the last 10,000 yuan on supplies. Now, he waited. The Celestial Origin Terminals would soon awaken¡ªand with them, his destiny. Chapter 3 - The Soulforged Mask – Three Lives? Chapter 3: The Soulforged Mask ¨C Three Lives? Four days after moving into Wangshu Valley, at exactly 2:00 AM, Wu Yuan lay still on his bed, fully dressed, waiting. Then¡ª Thin strands of white light pulsed from the Celestial Origin Bracelet on his wrist, coiling around his body like ethereal vines. An unseen force lifted him half a meter into the air. A blink later, his consciousness plunged into darkness. It might have lasted a second¡ªor a century. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a familiar stone room from his dream memories. The Birth Chamber The room was small¡ªfive meters in length, width, and height. Wu Yuan didn¡¯t rise immediately. Instead, he remained lying in a shallow pool filled with milky-white liquid, the very substance that had forged his new body. This vessel was his anchor in the Celestial Origin World. His Earthly body and this one were two sides of the same coin¡ªdestined to merge in the distant future. Suddenly, a genderless, mechanical voice echoed through the chamber: ¡°2-star bracelet detected. You may claim one damaged equipment reward. Choose¡ª¡± Wu Yuan smirked. This was the moment he¡¯d waited for. The Selection The room vanished. He stood in a void, beneath a river of light stretching endlessly in both directions. Each glowing orb represented a damaged artifact. The spectacle was breathtaking¡ªbut useless. ¡°Switch to projection mode,¡± Wu Yuan commanded coolly. The void dissolved, replaced by a floating screen listing countless items in miniature. He didn¡¯t bother scrolling. ¡°I select Hidden Vault A-5544239, Artifact H-368977¡ªthe Soulforged Mask (Damaged).¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Selection approved,¡± the voice intoned. A black half-mask, veined with intricate white cracks, materialized before him. A jagged hole marred its forehead¡ªevidence of a missing component. Wu Yuan¡¯s fingers trembled as he seized it. A Legendary Artifact In both past lives, this mask had eluded him. First life: He¡¯d dismissed it as myth¡ªuntil whispers on his deathbed hinted otherwise. Second life: Only as a high-ranking figure did he learn its true owner¡ª¡±Soul King¡± Klaus, a deranged noble who¡¯d terrorized a quarter of Europe with his Black Dream Legion. Now, history would change. Blood Bonding Wu Yuan bit his finger and pressed the bleeding wound to the mask¡¯s hole. Threads of blood slithered out, dyeing the white veins crimson until the entire mask pulsed with his essence. A flood of information surged into his mind: [Soulforged Mask] Owner: Wu Yuan Rank: Relic* (Damaged) Lv.1 [Disguise]: Alters appearance, voice, and aura. Undetectable by those two tiers higher. 1,000-day cooldown per activation. Lasts until manually dispelled. Upgrade path: Mask refinement or illusion-type materials. Lv.1 [Doppelganger]: Consumes special life-force materials to create a clone (10% of host¡¯s power). Clone can train independently. Merge to absorb its strength. Control range: 200 meters. Beyond that, it acts autonomously. Maintenance: Recall to mask space every 10 days for 3-day recuperation. Neglect risks collapse. Death penalty: 1,000-day cooldown to remake. Upgrade path: Mask refinement or soul-type materials. Lv.1 [Mask Space]: Capacity: 1 (clone only). No other items allowed. Upgrade path: Space-enhancing materials or life/soul-type infusions. A Calculated Gamble Klaus had wasted a decade scouring Earth for Fountain of Youth water to craft his first clone. But Wu Yuan knew a far superior material was right beneath him¡ª Geospirit Emulsion. The true hidden reward of the Celestial Origin Terminals. Three Lives, One Choice Each chamber¡¯s emulsion pool could forge three bodies¡ªthree lives. First life: Pure white emulsion (peak potential). Second life: Pale emulsion (diminished). Third life: Gray emulsion (crippled). Beyond that? Worthless husks. Wu Yuan planned to burn all three¡ªfor a secret reason. The Loophole First-time bodies could cultivate in the emulsion pool¡ªbut only before leaving the chamber. Once out, 15 minutes triggered expulsion into the Celestial Origin World. Even rebirths couldn¡¯t reuse this exploit. The Forge Begins Wu Yuan donned the mask and willed it to create a clone. Then, he assumed the ¡°Recumbent Buddha Stance¡±¡ªa posture from his first life¡¯s greatest fortune. Left fist pressed to his waist. Right hand cradling his head, thumb on the temple. He floated serenely as the emulsion submerged his nose and mouth, his breathing syncing to an esoteric rhythm. Wisps of mist spiraled into his orifices, shrouding him in a cocoon. Meanwhile, the pool¡¯s far side bubbled violently¡ªthe clone taking form. Hours Later The emulsion faded to dull white. Beside Wu Yuan lay a naked doppelganger¡ª90% identical, down to the smirk. Wu Yuan ¨C Clone [Geospirit Emulsion Enhanced]* Physique: Tempered Sinew (Mid-stage) Control range: 1,000 meters (5x standard) Maintenance: 3 days every 2 months ¡°Worth every drop,¡± Wu Yuan murmured, tracing the clone¡¯s defined muscles. Final Preparations Clone dressed in coarse hemp robes from the stone bed. Wu Yuan checked his cultivation: Skin-Shedding (Early-stage)¡ªleaping two realms in hours. Disguise activated: Main body: Burly, bearded, a foot taller. Clone: Compact, spiky-haired, unrecognizable. The Voice Returns ¡°Newcomer prepared. Initiating transfer.¡± A gray vortex swallowed the chamber floor. Then¡ªa new voice, ancient and laden with disdain: *¡±Origin: Milky Way Barrens. Prison Planet #374433889. Low-grade hybrid human (Nuwa-Pan bloodline). Rank: Trash. Passage granted.¡±* Prison Planet? Low-grade hybrid? Wu Yuan¡¯s fists clenched. Nuwa and Pan bloodlines? This concerned not just him, but a billion Longxia people. The vortex yawned beneath him. Weightlessness. Endless falling. He gripped his clone¡¯s hand¡ªthey¡¯d arrive together. Chapter 4 - Qingqiao Town, Blood Essence, Lifespan Chapter 4: Qingqiao Town, Blood Essence, Lifespan The sensation of falling lasted for a long time until the surrounding gray currents seeped with white light, and the weightlessness abruptly vanished. The teleportation was complete! Wu Yuan and his doppelganger appeared at the rear of a crowd, with noisy voices immediately assaulting them from all directions. Their arrival drew no attention, as there were already tens of thousands of people around, all dressed in identical coarse linen garments, trudging forward in an indistinguishable mass. Some naturally sociable or clique-forming individuals huddled together, chattering about their confusion since arrival¡ªsome marveled, some complained, and many cursed the so-called ¡°aliens¡± who had delivered the Tianyuan Terminals. The words Wu Yuan heard most frequently were ¡°game¡± and ¡°player,¡± which made him inwardly shake his head. If these people truly believed they had logged into a mere game, they would soon pay a heavy, and brutal price. The ¡°aliens¡± were no philanthropists, nor were they delivering warmth in the depths of winter. The Tianyuan Terminals were valuable. If the ¡°aliens¡± had distributed so many of them without expecting anything in return simply allowing Earthlings to play games, then they would be utter fools. Wu Yuan discreetly released his grip on his doppelganger. The current environment posed no immediate safety concerns. In the distance, he recognized the familiar sight of Qingqiao, the soaring bridge spanning two mountains. Its elegant, rainbow-like form was the most vivid impression of the Tianyuan World from his two dream memories. That was right. Though he hadn¡¯t fully followed his dream memories in handling his real life, he had still been teleported to the same starting point in the Tianyuan World¡ªQingqiao Town, just as the dreams had foretold. According to his dream memories, on the first day the Tianyuan World opened, over fifty million people from across Earth had logged in, with millions from Longxia alone secretly entering. Some were sent as scouts, but most had ventured in seeking adventure. Initially, Longxia¡¯s people were scattered across dozens of border towns, and Qingqiao Town was one of them. Though Wu Yuan had altered his steps to enter the Tianyuan World, the future had its fixed trajectory or, more poetically, its stubbornness. He had still arrived at Qingqiao Town, the place where his two dream lives had begun. This place held too many memories for him¡ªlove, affection, and hatred alike. But so be it. What was meant to come would come. His eyes glinted coldly as he sneered inwardly. The queue moved forward for two to three hours. When Wu Yuan and his trailing doppelganger finally reached the town entrance at the foot of the mountain, they saw the familiar government office, the Immigration Bureau. The characters on the sign were not Longxia script but Tang script, a hieroglyphic writing system similar to Longxia¡¯s Han characters. Since the bodies they inhabited were automatically imprinted with the language, no one found the script unfamiliar. Still, most found it strange. They treated the Tianyuan World as a game, yet this ¡°game¡± was absurdly complex, even taking character creation so seriously. The ¡°newbie village¡± receiving them, these so-called ¡°Outlander Players,¡± had gone so far as to erect an awkwardly named ¡°Immigration Bureau¡± sign¡ªdeserving nothing but scorn! Listening to nearby chatter about ¡°newbie villages¡± and ¡°players,¡± Wu Yuan could only sigh inwardly. He knew this Immigration Bureau was not to be trifled with. If these newcomers truly saw themselves as players and acted recklessly, they would soon regret it. Long rows of desks were set up outside the Immigration Bureau, with over a hundred burly, sword-bearing guards maintaining order, directing people to receive wooden identity plaques and small bundles. Occasionally, some clueless individuals made a fuss, asking too many questions or even arguing with the guards¡ªonly to be swiftly subdued with fists, feet, or the flat of a blade. What kind of audacity made these people dare to cause trouble? Wu Yuan found it baffling. Though these guards didn¡¯t have levels floating above their heads like in Earth¡¯s online games, their formidable bearing alone made it clear they were not to be provoked. From what he knew, these guards all possessed Body Refinement cultivation. Those assigned to handle new immigrants were the elite among them. At the very least, they were at the fourth major stage of Body Refinement¡ªTempered Bones¡ªa full realm above Wu Yuan¡¯s own third-stage, Skin-Shedding body, which he had paid a heavy price to attain. A Tempered Bones cultivator on Earth would possess a baseline strength of a thousand jin, capable of lifting cars like dumbbells without effort. Handling these reckless ¡°level-zero noobs¡± would be child¡¯s play. Eventually, the line reached Wu Yuan. While directing his doppelganger to follow a guard to a separate desk, he stepped forward for his own registration. The process went smoothly. The clerk only asked for his name. Wu Yuan had prepared a false identity in advance¡ªLi Xinyuan, and provided it without hesitation. The clerk inscribed the name onto a crude-looking gray wooden plaque, its surface swirling with faint runic light. After collecting a drop of Wu Yuan¡¯s blood and explaining the plaque¡¯s basic functions, the process was complete. A guard then directed him to collect a small bundle before allowing him into the town. His doppelganger underwent the same process without issue, which eased Wu Yuan¡¯s hidden tension. He could have simply stored the doppelganger back into the Doppelganger Space of the Soul-Mimic Mask to bypass registration, but he needed the doppelganger to obtain its own identity plaque. This wasn¡¯t just about hiding his identity. The identity plaque also determined whether the doppelganger could move, cultivate, and act independently in the Tianyuan World, it had numerous uses. That was why he had taken the risk. Fortunately, Qingqiao Town was a remote backwater, insignificant in the grand scheme of the Tianyuan World. The local officials lacked high-level cultivators capable of seeing through the doppelganger¡¯s nature, allowing him to secure a second independent identity plaque. The doppelganger¡¯s plaque bore the name ¡°Zhou Zisheng,¡± another fabricated identity. Qingqiao Town¡¯s gate stood between two mountains, overshadowed by the colossal bridge spanning thousands of meters above. The towering walls, thirty zhang high and ten zhang wide, made it hard to believe this was merely a border town and not a major city. But such was the Tianyuan World. Compared to Earth, this world was nearly boundless, with infinite foundational depth, the very reason it could nurture power surpassing the mundane. With enough cultivation, matching the gods and demons of Earth¡¯s myths was not impossible. Once inside, Wu Yuan didn¡¯t rush around. After briefly surveying the bustling streets, lined with shops, packed with warriors, hunters, and even massive beasts, he paused by the roadside. Following the clerk¡¯s instructions, he pressed both identity plaques to his forehead, absorbing their information. [Li Xinyuan] Level: 9 Identity: Borderland Immigrant, Low-Class Drifter Cultivation: Skin-Shedding (Initial Stage) Blood Essence: 0 Lifespan: 26 / 110 [Zhou Zisheng] Level: 6 Identity: Borderland Immigrant, Low-Class Drifter Cultivation: Sinew-Tempering (Middle Stage) Blood Essence: 0 Lifespan: 26 / 100 The information on the plaques was simple, but the inclusion of levels gave it the superficial appearance of a crude online game, something that might align with some people¡¯s expectations. Yet, for those fixated on gaming mechanics, disappointment would soon follow. There were no visible stats like Strength, Constitution, Agility, Charisma, or Luck, let alone any ¡°point allocation¡± system. In truth, the level was merely a numerical representation of cultivation, with little practical meaning. Each major realm corresponded to four levels, hence the numbering. Wu Yuan¡¯s main body had progressed through the eight minor stages of Muscle-Training (Initial, Middle, High, Peak) and Sinew-Tempering (Initial, Middle, High, Peak), reaching Skin-Shedding (Initial Stage)¡ªnaturally placing him at Level 9. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the most critical details on the plaque were not level or cultivation, but identity, Blood Essence, and Lifespan. As for why the plaques displayed cultivation and lifespan, these were derived from blood analysis via embedded runic arrays, updating in real-time as the body changed. Both Wu Yuan and his doppelganger shared the same identity: Borderland Immigrant (self-explanatory) and Low-Class Drifter¡ªthe absolute bottom tier, barely above riotous rebels. In essence, the Tianyuan World viewed them as insignificant filler. Of course, this status could be changed, just not yet. What Wu Yuan truly wanted to know was what role Earth played in the universe to earn labels like ¡°Sin Planet¡± and ¡°Inferior Humans.¡± Blood Essence could enhance cultivation, obtained by slaying specific creatures¡ªdemons, fiendish insects, blood-corpses, remnant wraiths, and the like. It was a shortcut for rapid progress, assuming one survived the risks. As for lifespan, he was slightly surprised. He distinctly remembered that, in both dream memories, his starting lifespan had been only 68 years¡ªhis Earth body had always been frail. 68 minus 26 left 42¡ªbut this didn¡¯t mean he had 42 years left in the Tianyuan World. On the contrary, it represented his remaining lifespan on Earth. He murmured, ¡°So it¡¯s finally changed? That future wasn¡¯t set in stone, some things have already shifted.¡± A lifespan of 110 years for his main body made sense. Each major realm in Body Refinement added ten years¡ªcommon knowledge. As for the extra twelve years beyond the expected 98 (110 ¨C 26 ¨C 68), those were thanks to the Tianyuan Bracelet and Earth-Spirit Milk. In truth, the Tianyuan Terminal was more than just a login device. Its connection to the Tianyuan World ran far deeper than Earthlings realized. Simply put, the terminal could synchronize the lifespan gained in the Tianyuan World back to the user¡¯s real body. This heaven-defying function was the primary reason Earth¡¯s governments had ultimately allowed mass migration into the Tianyuan World. Because of the bracelet¡¯s synchronization, when Wu Yuan used Earth-Spirit Milk for cultivation, part of its benefits were directly transferred to his Earth body. Most crucially, it compensated for his physical deficiencies, solidifying his foundation and extending his Earth lifespan by twelve years¡ªbringing it to a respectable eighty. ¡°Pity that lifespan alone, without cultivation, is of limited use,¡± he muttered, shaking his head. Right now, no one understood better than him that the Tianyuan Terminal¡¯s apparent generosity hid countless restrictions. The path to bringing back lifespan was unobstructed, but bringing back cultivation, or other benefits was fraught with obstacles. This was why he had sought the Tianyuan Bracelet from the start. Terminals came in different forms (helmets, bracelets) and star ratings for a reason. The terminal¡¯s grade determined how much of the non-lifespan benefits could be brought back. Helmets started at 0.3%, increasing by 0.1% per star (a 12-star helmet reached 1.4%). Bracelets started at 3%, increasing by 1% per star (a 12-star bracelet reached 14%). His two-star bracelet allowed 4% synchronization. For example, Wu Yuan¡¯s Skin-Shedding cultivation in the Tianyuan World granted him a baseline strength of 500 jin. Bringing back 4% meant 20 jin. Factoring in his doppelganger¡¯s strength, this nearly reached half of an average Earthling¡¯s baseline (around 50 jin without exertion). At first glance, this seemed negligible. But the math changed at higher levels. Right now, his cultivation was still low. Once he progressed further, even a small percentage of an exponentially larger base would yield terrifying absolute values¡ªenough to shake Earth. Sadly, no one would realize this anytime soon. In fact, even lifespan increases wouldn¡¯t be easily believed. Most Earthlings, bound by ¡°scientific skepticism,¡± would dismiss the wooden plaques¡¯ lifespan estimates without first hand proof. For years to come, many would remain stubbornly doubtful of the Tianyuan World¡¯s wonders. Chapter 5 - Spirit-Source Architecture, Ancient Relay Station Chapter 5: Spirit-Source Architecture, Ancient Relay Station Wu Yuan finally checked the small bundle issued by the Immigration Bureau. Just as he remembered, each bundle contained a rusted, blunt knife and ten copper coins. The coins gleamed yellow, faintly shimmering with archaic charm and runic light, unlike the ancient copper coins of Longxia on Earth, these bore traces of the extraordinary. The blunt knife wasn¡¯t equipment. In the Tianyuan World, true equipment referred to items imbued with elemental force (yuanli) or even spiritual light, things that could be refined with a drop of blood and provide usage information. This knife was nothing of the sort. Again, this isn¡¯t a game. Unfortunately, far too few understood that. Ignoring the crowds chattering about ¡°killing monsters,¡± ¡°class changes,¡± and ¡°crappy starter gear,¡± Wu Yuan and his doppelganger swiftly turned onto a side road, heading straight toward another town gate. There, they found a structure resembling a large Roman colosseum encircling a smaller one, with a towering, hundred-zhang-tall statue of a goddess at its center. A massive sign read: ¡°Qingqiao Town Runic Warehouse.¡± The Runic Warehouse wasn¡¯t a storage facility for runes¡ªrather, it was a commercial space that provided dimensional storage services. The surrounding colosseum-like buildings were eateries and leisure shops catering to the warehouse¡¯s visitors. These businesses thrived because accessing the Runic Warehouse didn¡¯t require entering the main building. Within a *one-li radius of the goddess statue, one could burn a spatial talisman to connect to a designated storage space. This method might seem cumbersome, but it was how dimensional storage worked in the real world, not a game. Storage spaces were tiered by size, requiring different grades of talismans: Gray, White, Copper, Silver, Gold, Violet, Black¡­ and beyond. Most spaces only required a drop of blood on the talisman, burning it would open the storage based on the blood¡¯s aura. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But some special vaults couldn¡¯t be accessed with blood alone. They required a spoken passphrase. Wu Yuan was here because he knew two such passphrases. The first came from a treasure book deciphered in his first dream-memory, though it only held a modest sum of money. The second, far more valuable, was memorized from a video where someone bragged about their loot online in his second dream-memory. This was his foundation for future success. Right now, Wu Yuan and his doppelganger¡¯s combined wealth amounted to two blunt knives and twenty copper coins. Among the eateries around the Runic Warehouse, he avoided the grand, opulent ones and chose a shabby teahouse in a secluded corner. He spent all twenty coins to rent a private booth, receiving a White Talisman with a passphrase and a pot of cheap tea in return. Once the waiter left, Wu Yuan didn¡¯t hesitate. He pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the talisman. The blood wasn¡¯t for authentication, it merely strengthened his mental connection to the storage space. The talisman ignited without flame, and his consciousness expanded, pulled into a vast, grid-like warehouse. He recited the memorized passphrase. A cluster of runes flared, carrying his mind at lightning speed to a small cubicle and depositing his consciousness inside. His body shuddered slightly as a mental image of a one-meter cube materialized in his mind. A quick scan confirmed the contents matched his dream-memory. With a thought, the items inside tumbled onto the table. There were only three things: An ornate coin pouch, filled to the brim. A sheathed dagger. A large clothing bundle containing three sets of semi-new commoner attire, complete with shoes, socks, and headscarves. He immediately emptied the pouch, revealing 160 silver coins, equivalent to 16,000 copper coins, or the combined wealth of 1,600 newcomers. On Earth¡¯s black market, this sum would soon sell for 1.6 million. A grin spread across his face. This money was crucial¡ªthe first fortune is always the hardest to obtain, and it was key to his upcoming plans. Next, he drew the dagger. Its blade gleamed like liquid ice, far sharper than the blunt knife he¡¯d received earlier. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t true ¡°equipment¡± either, lacking yuanli or spiritual light. Still, it was a massive upgrade. Finally, he and his doppelganger changed into the new clothes. Their previous rags were kept¡ªwaste not, want not. The Second Vault ¨C A Priceless Treasure Wu Yuan then called the waiter back and spent 10 silver coins on a Silver Talisman. The waiter, accustomed to customers suddenly upgrading their attire, simply pocketed the money happily. Wu Yuan didn¡¯t activate the talisman immediately. Instead, he carefully rehearsed the passphrase, a mix of Tang script and an obscure dialect, ensuring perfect pronunciation. This time, he was nervous. He knew he had only one attempt. This vault had been sealed for thousands of years. Originally, it had been rented using a valuable collateral deposit, but the deposit¡¯s worth had long since expired. The Runic Warehouse¡¯s administrators couldn¡¯t open it, but the space¡¯s structural integrity had degraded over time. A single mispronunciation could destabilize the space, collapsing it and destroying everything inside. Luck was on his side. The passphrase was flawless. His consciousness surged forward, wrapped in silver runes, traveling deep into the warehouse¡¯s recesses. But before he could inspect the contents, he felt the space warping under the strain of his amplified consciousness. Not good. Acting fast, he grabbed everything inside and yanked his mind back. BOOM! Dust exploded. Coughing, he and his doppelganger were left covered in soot. When the air cleared, Wu Yuan saw what he¡¯d retrieved: A shoe-box-sized model house, exquisitely detailed¡ªcomplete with windows, a courtyard, a well, and farmland. Mist curled around it, flickering with faint spiritual light. Three stone tablets (one white, two gray), etched with intricate runes. Two metal chests: One held ten palm-sized ingots of purple-veined, scale-patterned gold (each weighing one jin). The other contained two jade-sealed pill bottles, labeled: ¡°Stone Milk¡± ¡°Three Flowers, Three Herbs Elixir¡± Wu Yuan¡¯s hands trembled as he picked up the miniature house. This was the Ancient Relay Station, a Spirit-Source Architecture, one of the rare structures capable of independent existence in the wild and even upgrading. Though currently model-sized, a drop of blood would transform it into a full-sized complex, complete with lodging, dining, farming, and more. Like the Soul-Mimic Mask, it was damaged, missing key components. But it was still functional enough to give him an early advantage. The purple-veined gold alone was worth tens of thousands of gold coins, a staggering windfall. The pills¡¯ efficacy was uncertain, but the tablets and gold were already a massive bonus. Adjusting Plans The haul exceeded expectations, forcing Wu Yuan to revise his next steps. Carrying everything openly would draw attention, so he stored most of it back in the Runic Warehouse using a Copper Talisman (purchased for another silver coin). Only the Relay Station model, one gold ingot, the Stone Milk pill, and the three tablets remained with him. Before leaving, he carefully erased traces of his activities. The waiter, having profited nicely, wouldn¡¯t question the mess. Recruiting Talent Wu Yuan¡¯s next destination was a residential district five li away. He stopped before a small courtyard with three withered trees lining its entrance. ¡°This is the place.¡± Before long, a lean, clean-shaven man in his forties emerged, gripping a short spear. His expression was guarded. ¡°State your business. If you¡¯re debt collectors, tell your employer I¡¯ll pay what I owe on time.¡± Wu Yuan clasped his hands respectfully. ¡°Brother Chen, we¡¯re not here for debts. We¡¯ve heard of your expertise in relay stations and wish to hire you.¡± Chen Yong frowned. ¡°For a commercial relay station? Where?¡± ¡°Redleaf Cliff, in the Demonbug Hills, a thousand li from the nearest ninth-grade imperial road.¡± Chen Yong¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I¡¯ve been there. Good location, rich in resources, but infested with demons and insects. It¡¯d take a fifth-tier station and 300 Tempered Bones mercenaries to secure it. No profit in that.¡± Wu Yuan smiled. ¡°I have a 90% certainty my station will thrive there, without needing 300 guards.¡± Chen Yong fell silent, studying Wu Yuan. Then, slowly, he nodded. Wu Yuan¡¯s grin widened. He knew Chen Yong was a man who trusted his instincts. And right now, those instincts were telling him to take the gamble. Chapter 6 - Mid-Grade Drifter, Recruitment, Procurement Chapter 6: Mid-Grade Drifter, Recruitment, Procurement [Chen Yong]. Level: 10 Identity: Registered Resident of Qingqiao Town, Low-Grade Commoner Cultivation: Skin-Shedding (Middle Stage) Blood Essence: 0 Lifespan: 60 / 330 Chen Yong ultimately accepted Wu Yuan¡¯s offer, handing over his identity plaque for inspection, standard practice in the Tianyuan World. In exchange, Wu Yuan would pay him a high salary of five silver coins per month. Chen Yong¡¯s status as a registered resident was straightforward, but his Low-Grade Commoner rank reflected the Tianyuan World¡¯s rigid hierarchy: Drifters (Low, Mid, High) Commoners (Low, Mid, High) Citizens (Low, Mid, High) Nobility (12 tiers beyond) Twenty-four tiers in total, defining the social order of this world. Chen Yong¡¯s 330-year lifespan initially surprised Wu Yuan, until he remembered: Tianyuan Standard Time flowed ten times faster than Earth¡¯s. Chen Yong¡¯s 330 years here equaled 33 Earth years. Wu Yuan¡¯s 110-year lifespan followed Earth¡¯s time scale, meaning he¡¯d live far longer in relative terms. This disparity only deepened Wu Yuan¡¯s awe for the Tianyuan Terminal, what kind of power could warp time itself? Step One: The Relay Station Application To establish a commercial relay station, Wu Yuan needed land rights, something his Low-Grade Drifter status couldn¡¯t secure. Solution: Put everything under Chen Yong¡¯s name. Wu Yuan wasn¡¯t worried about betrayal. The Ancient Relay Station was a Spirit-Source Architecture, once blood-bound, only he could control it. Chen Yong assumed it was just a standard outpost, never dreaming it could self-upgrade. Plus, Chen Yong¡¯s honesty was well-documented in Wu Yuan¡¯s dream memories. The application process was smooth, costing 50 silver coins. The station was registered as: ¡°Redleaf Cliff Relay Station.¡± As a frontier venture, it came with government incentives: Chen Yong was promoted to Mid-Grade Commoner, titled ¡°Station Master.¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wu Yuan and his doppelganger became Mid-Grade Drifters, labeled ¡°Relay Station Guards.¡± Step Two: Recruiting from the Drifter Camp The Drifter Camp sat on a sandbar outside Qingqiao Town¡¯s walls, a ramshackle slum, but far from neglected. The town needed manpower, and this was where new immigrants were funneled. Chen Yong exchanged 30 silver for 3,000 copper coins and headed straight for the camp¡¯s elders. Strategy: Flattery, family ties, and 2,000 copper bribes to the elders. 100 recruits gathered¡ªmostly men, all with Sinew-Tempering cultivation and basic skills. At the camp¡¯s exit, Chen Yong negotiated with officials, securing employment papers for everyone. Cost: 400 copper to the clerks. Only three recruits got rank promotions (to Low-Grade Commoner). Step Three: Procurement Wu Yuan took charge of supplies, spending like a seasoned warlord: Food & Essentials 500 dry rations (100 copper) 3,000 lbs of unhusked rice (150 copper) 1,000 lbs of white rice (500 copper) 150 water gourds (50 copper) Salt, cookware, tools (13 silver total) Weapons & Armor 20 spearmen sets (leather armor + spear, 1 silver each) 20 archer sets (leather armor + bow + 100 arrows, 2 silver each) Bonus: 100 wound-healing ointments. Transport 2 Yellow Rhino Carts (10 silver each, 5,000-lb capacity, horse-speed). Total spent: 142 silver (leaving 18 silver). The Final Toll: Road Fees At the Ninth-Grade Imperial Road Office, Wu Yuan faced tier-based pricing: Low-Grade Commoners: 10 copper per 10,000 li. Mid-Grade Drifters (like Wu Yuan): 20 copper (penalty for low status). Total for 103 people + 2 carts: 1,774 copper ¡ú discounted to 15 silver (first-time traveler rate). Remaining funds: 3 silver. Wu Yuan then spent 24 copper on two extra passes (for future messengers) and 2 silver on return permits for the carts. Final coins in hand: 76 copper. Departure With a deep breath, Wu Yuan glanced back at Qingqiao Town¡¯s towering walls, then shouted orders, taking the reins of the lead cart. The 100-strong convoy rumbled onto the Yellowstone Imperial Road, kicking up dust as they marched toward Redleaf Cliff. Chapter 7 - The Ninth-Grade Official Road, Hound Bugs, and Grinder Bugs Chapter 7: The Ninth-Grade Official Road, Hound Bugs, and Grinder Bugs Stepping onto the ninth-grade yellow stone official road, Wu Yuan couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the incredible power of the Tianyuan World, even though he had seen it countless times in his dreams. This ninth-grade road was twenty zhang wide, its surface entirely paved with massive yellow stones. Each stone spanned several zhang in length and width, fitted together so tightly that the road appeared almost seamless at a glance, no less impressive than the highways of Blue Star. Even more astonishing was the faint glow of runes flowing within the stones, accompanied by an ethereal mist rising from the road, giving it an extraordinary aura. When they first stepped onto the road, the passage runes had not yet been activated, and everyone felt their bodies grow heavy, making each step laborious. But once the group assembled and Chen Yong ordered everyone to activate their runes (including the passage talismans for the yellow rhino carts), their bodies lightened as if they could almost fly. With yellow light swirling beneath their feet, each step carried them ten zhang forward. In moments, they had already covered several li. It was nothing short of miraculous. ¡°The ninth-grade official road, ten thousand li in a single day is no exaggeration,¡± Wu Yuan thought in awe. From what he knew, the official roads of the Tianyuan World were not built through ordinary means but through divine power. The most crucial participants in their construction were the relay stations, especially for high-grade roads, which could only be established by spirit-source stations¡ªmuch like the one he had acquired. These roads were embedded with permanent formations: the Star-Source Energy Storage Array, the Identification Array, the Indestructible Vajra Array, and the Swift Shadow Array. Not only were they nearly impossible to destroy, but they also absorbed the power of the sun, moon, and stars to enhance the speed of those traveling upon them; be it humans, beasts, or vehicles. A ninth-grade road could amplify speed a hundredfold. With the passage runes, traversing ten thousand li in a day became possible. Without them, walking on the road felt like trudging through mud, requiring several times the effort while drastically reducing speed. This system was far harsher than Blue Star¡¯s highway tolls, compared to this, toll booths ought to weep in shame. Wu Yuan and his group had set off during the day, and by the time they reached their destination near the Demon Bug Hills, it was still daytime. In truth, they had traveled for a full day and eaten three meals. But in the Tianyuan World, the lengths of day and night were unpredictable, leading to such peculiar occurrences. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, whether it was Wu Yuan, Chen Yong, or the newly recruited men, all possessed some level of cultivation, allowing them to stay awake for two or three days without fatigue. The natives, especially, were accustomed to the irregular day-night cycles and could adjust their sleep schedules accordingly. Standing on a small slope a few li from the official road, Chen Yong pointed toward the distant hills shrouded in swirling red, black, and gray mists: ¡°Boss, look. This place is three hundred li from the Demon Bug Hills and one hundred twenty li from Red Leaf Cliff. If a road were built here, we could march straight in. Unfortunately, aside from the occasional demon-hunting mercenary groups, no one has any interest in this area¡ªlet alone building a relay station nearby.¡± ¡°Precisely because others overlook it, I¡¯ve set my sights here,¡± Wu Yuan said meaningfully. ¡°Times are changing. The Demon Bug Hills might become very lively in the future.¡± Though he didn¡¯t elaborate, Chen Yong sensed boundless confidence in his employer¡¯s words. He found it somewhat strange, but considering Wu Yuan¡¯s background as a wasteland immigrant who had amassed considerable wealth in such a short time, perhaps he had more hidden advantages. With that thought, another layer of Chen Yong¡¯s unease faded away. Wu Yuan then declared, ¡°No time to waste. Let¡¯s move out!¡± Here, there was no turning back. The remaining one hundred twenty li to Red Leaf Cliff would be treacherous, with scattered human demons and vicious bugs posing constant threats. Wu Yuan had no intention of delaying¡ªtime was precious, and hesitation would only invite danger. Now was the time to press forward. Chen Yong bowed in acknowledgment and quickly organized forty station guards, distributing weapons and armor: twenty spearmen and twenty archers. He took the lead with ten spearmen at the front, his disciplined demeanor earning Wu Yuan¡¯s silent approval. This man was both brave and resourceful. During recruitment, he had already considered personnel allocation, and when purchasing equipment, he matched it to future needs and individual skills, ensuring a smooth transition into an armed force. Without such foresight, even the best gear would be useless in untrained hands. The group advanced cautiously for sixty li. The path was littered with rocks and weeds, dotted with low thickets and skeletal remains. Faint footprints suggested sporadic passage, but no proper road existed, making the journey arduous. Fortunately, there were no dense forests, swamps, or lakes, and the open terrain allowed for good visibility, helping them avoid danger. After this relatively ¡°easy¡± stretch, the landscape grew more hazardous, with frequent sinkholes and ponds, prime ambush spots for human demons and vicious bugs. Wu Yuan repositioned the archers at the center of the group, flanked by spearmen, ready for any sudden threats. Sure enough, before long, two large, dog-like bugs burst from ponds dozens of meters apart. These ¡°hound bugs¡± had compound eyes, fanged mouths, six spiked legs, and armored shells. Lacking tails, they moved with terrifying speed. Chen Yong, experienced in such encounters, immediately dispatched five spearmen while he provided support. Wu Yuan, no stranger to these creatures, knew the best way to handle them and simultaneously ordered five archers forward to cover the spearmen. The decision proved wise. Though the spearmen were all at the Tendon-Tempering Realm, their movements were slightly outpaced by the hound bugs. But with the archers¡¯ deadly iron-tipped arrows forcing the bugs into hesitation, the spearmen soon finished them off. The two hound bugs yielded over a dozen strands of blood essence. As they died, faint red mist rose from their corpses, drawn by an unseen force toward the combatants¡¯ waist-mounted identity plaques, including Wu Yuan and Chen Yong¡¯s, as if some rule acknowledged their roles in the battle. Wu Yuan pressed his plaque to his forehead and confirmed that his blood essence count, previously zero, had risen to ¡°one.¡± This blood essence could be directly absorbed during cultivation to rapidly boost strength. However, Wu Yuan had no intention of using it now¡ªnot because of the amount, but because absorbing blood essence carried hidden risks. While it accelerated growth, it also planted unseen flaws. That was a matter for another time. After the battle, Wu Yuan contributed his dagger to harvest the bugs¡¯ six legs and shell fragments, which were loaded onto the carts. Each leg sold for five copper coins, and even broken shell pieces fetched one copper apiece. With twelve legs and twenty shell fragments, the total came to one hundred copper coins. ¡°At least we¡¯re not operating at a loss anymore,¡± Wu Yuan remarked with a smile as Chen Yong approached to discuss their next steps. ¡°Boss, don¡¯t underestimate these hound bugs. Alone, they¡¯re manageable, but in packs, they can wear down even Bone-Forging Realm constables,¡± Chen Yong warned. ¡°You¡¯re right. We must stay cautious. I hope we reach Red Leaf Cliff without losing anyone. Skilled hands aren¡¯t easy to come by.¡± ¡°Exactly. I was only able to recruit so many capable men from the refugee camp through connections. Anyone else would¡¯ve been lucky to bring back three or five, and at a much higher cost.¡± Wu Yuan recalled the scene and grew curious. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you knew the clerk and the garrison captain?¡± ¡°Boss is sharp! We¡¯ve been friends for years. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have released so many decent recruits. Of course, it also helped that you¡¯re employing them for a relay station, the government secretly supports station expansion.¡± ¡°What if we need more hands later?¡± Wu Yuan probed. ¡°We¡¯d have to wait until the station upgrades, with at least a second-tier formation, before it¡¯s feasible,¡± Chen Yong mused. Wu Yuan nodded, satisfied. Chen Yong hesitated, as if wanting to ask or clarify something, but seeing his employer¡¯s confident demeanor, he ultimately held his tongue. The journey continued. From then on, vicious bugs appeared more frequently. Aside from hound bugs, they encountered ¡°grinder bugs¡±¡ªturtle-like creatures with rotating saw-toothed shells. Fortunately, they never appeared in large groups, allowing the team to eliminate them all with only injuries and no deaths, though they expended over a dozen healing ointments. During some encounters, Wu Yuan deliberately had his clone participate to familiarize himself with its control. Overall, manipulating the clone felt like playing a first-person game. The clone¡¯s vision appeared naturally in his mind alongside his own. Focusing on the clone¡¯s perspective even created the sensation of physically shifting into its body¡ªa bizarre yet fascinating experience. Chapter 8 - Red Leaf Cliff – The Relay Station Rises Chapter 8: Red Leaf Cliff ¨C The Relay Station Rises The remaining distance was sixty li. By Wu Yuan¡¯s estimate, the group had traveled for at least another full day by Blue Star¡¯s timekeeping standards, yet the sky still showed no sign of darkening. Such was the strangeness of the Tianyuan World. They had already finished five hundred portions of dry rations, and their one hundred fifty gourds of clean water were nearly depleted when they finally caught sight of a vivid crimson silhouette in the distance. Red Leaf Cliff. Sheer cliffs rose on either side, draped in blood-red vines, with a thousand-pace-wide, ten-li-long passage cutting through the middle. It was more of a gorge than a cliff, but the first mercenaries to discover it had named it Red Leaf Cliff, and the name had stuck. ¡°Ten li of Red Leaf Cliff, where even blood seems pure, With blades in hand, we march ahead, Only to return when wounds endure.¡± Wu Yuan couldn¡¯t help but recite the crude poem etched in his dream memories. In both of his past lives, this place had been steeped in blood and nostalgia. He had tried to make it his home, but all it had ever given him was more bloodshed. In his first life, he had painstakingly established a small territory nearby, only for it to be destroyed before it could even reach village rank, costing him most of his assets. In his second life, he had managed to build a village early and rapidly advanced it to high-tier status, nearly reaching town rank. But misplaced trust in so-called brothers led to its loss, and even real-world pursuit, forcing him into hiding and wasting precious time. His early advantages faded, turning him from a pioneer into a straggler, eventually lost among the masses. As for where to place the Spirit-Source Relay Station at Red Leaf Cliff, Wu Yuan had long since decided. The spot was all too familiar. It had once been the stronghold of a powerful territory in his dream memories, situated just beyond the cliff¡¯s rear entrance. Sadly, that territory¡¯s lord had also met a tragic end after his real-world identity was exposed, leaving his domain in ruins. Wu Yuan led the way without hesitation. Chen Yong followed closely, puzzled. He had assumed the station would be built at the cliff¡¯s front entrance, facing the official road. Instead, Wu Yuan led them straight through the gorge to the far side, a far more dangerous location. ¡°Boss, is this really the right place?¡± Chen Yong couldn¡¯t help but whisper as Wu Yuan finalized the site. Wu Yuan gestured toward a recessed area about a li deep, backed by a large cave, as if outlining a grand vision: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it? Your concerns aren¡¯t mine. Now, everyone¡ªstand back.¡± With that, he retrieved the Spirit-Source Relay Station from his pack, carefully placed it at the center of the chosen site, then pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto it, silently activating it. A sudden gale erupted as countless milky-white motes of energy representing *yuanli, converged from all directions. The energy swiftly formed a massive vortex hundreds of meters wide, swirling around the expanding station at its core. Chen Yong and the newly recruited guards gaped in shock before erupting into unrestrained joy. This spectacle meant the structure was no ordinary building, not a makeshift shelter, nor even a Star-Source construct, but something far more formidable. Fed by the torrent of yuanli, the station expanded until it covered over ten thousand square meters. Yet the vortex didn¡¯t dissipate¡ªinstead, it grew larger and faster, drawing in even more distant energy. The yuanli condensed into countless runes of varying sizes, embedding themselves into the station¡¯s walls, buildings, and facilities. After what felt like an eternity, the remaining runes formed an enormous, net-like formation above the station before crashing down in a radiant explosion. Brilliant light flashed across the structure like a sky full of stars, stunningly beautiful. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The relay station was complete. Wu Yuan strode inside, his clone in tow. The others remained frozen for a long moment before snapping out of their daze. Excited, they hurried after him. Some driving carts, others carrying supplies into the newly built station. The station¡¯s control core lay within an octagonal tower at the center of the courtyard. Above its entrance, the words ¡°Guardian Spirit Tower¡± were carved. Currently, the tower had only one floor. Inside, Wu Yuan found a ten-meter-long black pool¡ªthe Upgrade Pool at the center of the hall. At its heart crouched a three-meter-long stone tiger, its jade-like body glowing faintly. A sphere of spiritual light hovered above its head: the station¡¯s control core, the Guardian Spirit Tiger. Though Wu Yuan had never personally operated a Spirit-Source Relay Station, he had witnessed similar scenes multiple times in his dream memories. Without hesitation, he commanded: ¡°Guardian Spirit Tiger, display the station¡¯s full details.¡± Light surged from the stone tiger¡¯s head, projecting a long white screen filled with crisp black text: [Spirit-Source Relay Station ¨C Damaged]. Name: Pending Level: 1 Owner: Li Xinyuan (Wu Yuan¡¯s pseudonym) Core Components: Guardian Stone Tiger [Rare Artifact]. Upgrade Pool [Rare Artifact]. Spatial Spirit Tree [Missing]. Core Formation Diagram [Missing]. Facilities: Tier 1 Guardian Spirit Tower Tier 1 Inn Tier 1 Courtyard 20 Storage Rooms Defensive Formations: Tier 1 Fortified Walls Tier 1 Protective Barrier Offensive Formations: Tier 1 Earthen Prison Tier 1 Ground Net Divine Abilities: Lv.1 [Stone Tiger¡¯s Aura]: Range: 300 meters. Effect: Unregistered individuals have their levels suppressed by 10 and movement reduced by 30%. Permanent. Lv.1 [Tiger Spirit¡¯s Execution]: Range: 1,000 meters. Effect: Instantly kills targets below Level 20. Higher-level targets suffer severe injuries. Cooldown: 3 months per use (max 3 stored charges). Resource Reserves: None Spiritual Energy Reserves: 200 (Due to missing Spatial Spirit Tree and Core Formation Diagram, energy conversion efficiency reduced by 90%. Current daily gain: 5 points.) Constructible Buildings: Tier 1 Spirit-Source Pool Tier 1 Spirit Field Tier 1 Spirit Well Upgrade Requirements: 1,000 Spiritual Energy 10 jin of Formation Ink 100 cubic meters of Hardgold Wood 100 cubic meters of Blue-Steel Stone 200 cubic meters of Tier 1 Spirit Soil Wu Yuan immediately named the station Red Leaf Cliff Relay Station. The moment he willed it, the main gate¡¯s plaque shimmered, revealing five bold characters. He then scrutinized the station¡¯s key abilities. To his surprise, the core already contained two complete Rare Artifacts, and a fully intact Spirit-Source Relay Station would have four. Rare Artifacts were incredibly scarce. Even after centuries in his dream memories, he had only encountered a handful. In the Tianyuan World, equipment was categorized into: Lower Three Tiers: Yuan Artifacts, Spirit Artifacts, Dharma Artifacts Middle Three Tiers: Rare Artifacts, Treasure Artifacts, Celestial Wonders ¡­and beyond. Rare Artifacts belonged to the Middle Three Tiers, utterly unattainable through normal means. This explained why even a Level 1 station possessed two divine abilities. Tiger Spirit¡¯s Execution, in particular, was a one-hit kill technique capable of slaying even fifth-realm Organ Refinement experts. It instantly elevated Wu Yuan¡¯s standing. After analyzing the screen three times, Wu Yuan concluded: Resource accumulation was the top priority. Wood, stone, and spirit soil needed to be gathered urgently¡ªnot just for upgrades, but also for constructing the Spirit-Source Pool, Spirit Field, and Spirit Well. As for Formation Ink, a specialized array-drawing fluid sold in Qingqiao Town¡¯s shops¡ªwhile expensive, it was obtainable. The real headache was completing the station¡¯s missing core components. The Spatial Spirit Tree wasn¡¯t unheard of in his memories; with enough strength, it could be acquired. But right now, strength was precisely what he lacked. The Core Formation Diagram required connections with special merchant guilds¡ªa lead he had, provided he could muster enough funds. Rubbing his temples, Wu Yuan pushed the thoughts aside. Overthinking wouldn¡¯t help. For now, he needed to organize the guards. The core could wait. He sent his clone out to collect the guards¡¯ identity plaques, imprinting them with the Guardian Spirit Tiger¡¯s runes. This registered them as station personnel, exempting them from the Stone Tiger¡¯s Aura suppression. Next, he had the clone practice the Reclining Buddha Stance inside the tower. Once the habit formed, he felt secure enough to leave, setting restrictions to bar anyone except himself and his clone from entering. Personally distributing the plaques, he familiarized himself with each guard¡¯s skills and assigned them rooms in the inn. Before rest, however, the two yellow rhino carts had to be unloaded, their contents sorted and stored. The spoils from hunting bugs along the way were placed in a repurposed storage room. After half a day¡¯s respite, the group reassembled. Wu Yuan divided the hundred guards into five teams: Chen Yong led twenty armed guards to scout five li toward the Demon Bug Hills, mapping monster and resource distribution. If outnumbered, they were to retreat immediately. Ma Jin, a guard skilled in calculations, took twenty men (including himself) to a nearby grove to fell Hardgold Wood¡ªa Tier 1 spirit wood needed for upgrades. They took one rhino cart. Shi Zhan, one of the three promoted commoners, led another twenty to a rocky slope to quarry Blue-Steel Stone, taking the second cart. Wu Yuan himself commanded twenty men to explore the cave behind the cliff¡ªa place he knew held secrets, the very reason this location had been coveted in his past lives. The remaining twenty armed guards split into two groups of ten, patrolling within 300 meters of the station, including the logging site. Newly built stations emitted energy fluctuations that attracted low-level human demons and vicious bugs (collectively called monsters). These creatures would trickle in over the next month. During the break, Wu Yuan had already activated Stone Tiger¡¯s Aura. Any monster entering the 300-meter range would be severely weakened, easy prey for the guards to harvest blood essence. The stage was set. Red Leaf Cliff Relay Station had risen. Now, it was time to thrive. Chapter 9 - The Black Pearl Mystery of Glowdream Cave, Blood on the Flaming Mountains Foothills Chapter 9: The Black Pearl Mystery of Glowdream Cave, Blood on the Flaming Mountain¡¯s Foothills sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Setting aside the work of the other four teams, let¡¯s focus on Wu Yuan¡¯s own expedition. The cave behind the relay station had an entrance two to three hundred meters wide and over ten zhang tall, now half-blocked by the newly built station. Wu Yuan led his team out through the station¡¯s back gate, and within a hundred steps, they entered the cavern. The light dimmed almost instantly. The deeper they ventured, the farther sunlight receded. Yet an eerie, phosphorescent glow began to illuminate the cave, emanating from strange luminous moss clinging to the walls. Wu Yuan observed with keen interest, memories of another timeline resurfacing. In the past, this place had become a tourist attraction. No one could withstand the pressure to establish a territory here, so it was left open for all to explore. By then, the cave¡¯s two most precious resources had long been stripped away, leaving only the dreamlike glow of the moss, earning it the name Glowdream Cave, a scenic wonder. ¡°Black pearls hide in Glowdream¡¯s embrace, While blood stains Flaming Mountain¡¯s base.¡± The verse slipped out unbidden, another relic of his memories. But this time, it carried a strange irony. History was written by the victors. The two future bloodbaths over resources would be fratricidal conflicts among Dragon Summer¡¯s own people. Later generations believed they occurred separately at Glowdream Cave and Flaming Mountain. Few knew the truth: not only did the legendary Black Pearl Rice originate here, but even the ancestral roots of Flaming Mountain¡¯s mutated Blazing Grass had been taken from this very cave two centuries prior. Now, those wars remained unborn. Dragon Summer¡¯s people hadn¡¯t yet flooded into the Tianyuan World. The handful who had entered struggled to survive in border towns. Their reach wouldn¡¯t extend here for at least three Blue Star years¡ªthirty Tianyuan years. What level will I have reached by then? Wu Yuan glanced back at the station¡¯s silhouette at the cave mouth and smiled. By then, the relay station would have expanded enough to completely conceal this cave¡¯s secrets. Those two blood-soaked battles would remain buried in his dreams. The Treasure Trove of Glowdream Cave The cavern stretched deep, forming a twisted rectangle. By Wu Yuan¡¯s estimate, it spanned over a thousand mu, roughly seventy hectares. While he mentally mapped the terrain, the twenty guards behind him gasped in awe. He had handpicked them; farmers with planting experience, foraging apprentices, and two mining trainees. The cave¡¯s abundant resources and absence of immediate dangers had them buzzing with excitement. With Wu Yuan¡¯s permission, they fanned out to scout. By midday, they¡¯d cataloged all visible resources and elected spokesmen to report. The Black Pearl Rice The farmers¡¯ leader, a man nicknamed Blackhead (despite the comical name, he was dead serious), stepped forward: *¡±Boss, we¡¯ve found three large groves of black rice trees¡ªover three thousand in total. The grains are pearl-sized, unlike any variety we¡¯ve seen. We sampled raw grains¡ªtheir spiritual energy surpasses even Tier-1 spirit rice. If not Tier-2, they¡¯re at least top-grade Tier-1.¡±* Wu Yuan nodded. He knew Black Pearl Rice¡¯s yield wasn¡¯t just ¡°a thousand jin per tree¡±¡ªthat was a gross underestimate. The real output was several times higher, and though it took a year to mature, the quality would make him wealthy beyond measure. Blackhead added with a fawning grin: ¡°And we¡¯ve made a shocking discovery! At the center of the largest grove stands a spirit rice tree¡ªtaller than the rest, glowing faintly. Its leaves trembled when we approached! A sentient plant like this is worth a fortune!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Wu Yuan feigned mild surprise, his calm demeanor unshaken by the windfall. Blackhead¡¯s awe deepened. He¡¯d planned to suggest how to handle the spirit tree, but seeing his employer¡¯s indifference, he realized: This man already knows. More than I do. Any greedy thoughts fled his mind. The Golden Blaze Grass Next came the foragers¡¯ representative¡ªa young woman named Caiyu, the most striking among the eight female guards. Previously disheveled, she¡¯d clearly found water in the cave, washing up and even styling her hair with a stone pin. Now, her beauty shone through. ¡°Boss, this cave is a treasure vault,¡± she declared. *¡±Deep inside, an entire wall is covered in Blazing Grass¡ªover ten thousand plants, all mutated to Tier-2 with gold veins in their leaves. I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. Their value? Measured in gold coins.¡±* Wu Yuan nodded again. *¡±I¡¯ve seen them. We¡¯ll call this variant Golden Blaze Grass. Original Blazing Grass is key for refining Body Tempering pills, especially Blaze Pills for Bone-Forging cultivators. But ours is Tier-2, meaning higher-grade pills.¡±* Caiyu¡¯s eyes sparkled with admiration. This boss sees everything. 3. The Mining Report Last came the two mining apprentices, one a chubby youth (how he¡¯d stayed plump in a refugee camp was a mystery). ¡°No major discoveries yet,¡± the boy admitted. ¡°But the cave floor is rich in Tier-1 Black Jade Soil. If we utilize it, Farmer Blackhead could double his rice cultivation.¡± ¡°Excellent.¡± Wu Yuan smiled, though his eyes darkened briefly. Glowdream Cave did hold mineral deposits, the Black Jade Soil itself was byproduct dust from a precious ore accumulated over millennia. But these apprentices lacked the skill to identify it. Good. As Caiyu said, this was a treasure vault, but its true worth was ten thousand times greater. The undiscovered ore veins were just one facet. Yet revealing too much now would attract packs of starving wolves. The station couldn¡¯t withstand that. For now, Black Pearl Rice and Golden Blaze Grass were enough to fill his coffers. The rest could wait until he grew stronger. Orders and Discoveries Wu Yuan put Blackhead and Caiyu in charge of the cave: Designate areas for soil excavation (to be shipped back to the station). Harvest 10,000 jin of mature Black Pearl Rice (limited by storage space). Forbid unauthorized Golden Blaze Grass harvesting (lacking proper tools and storage). Seal the cave, no entry except for these twenty guards. Returning to the station, he checked on the two patrol squads. They¡¯d already slain over a hundred vicious bugs and ten human demons. One squad was finishing off a spined, green-skinned demon, its strength and speed neutered by the station¡¯s Stone Tiger¡¯s Aura, turning it into a sluggish target. Five archers riddled it with arrows until one pierced its eye and brain. As the demon fell, hundreds of blood essence strands flowed into the archers¡¯ identity plaques. Under their leader¡¯s direction, spearmen moved in with cleavers, harvesting: Spines (from its back). Fangs (from its mouth). Hide (from its belly). Total value: 10 silver coins. They even reclaimed arrows for reuse. Wu Yuan noted the patrol leader¡ªa wiry, agile youth named Huang You showed promise. Meanwhile, the other squad, led by a brawny young man named Huang Tie, rushed over excitedly, holding up a cherry-sized, gelatinous crimson orb. ¡°Boss! The old folks in the camp called this ¡®Blood Essence Crystal¡¯!¡± Wu Yuan smiled. *¡±Correct. When powerful monsters die with concentrated blood essence, these form in their chests. One crystal equals 1,000 blood essence strands. Refined into Blood Essence Pills, a single dose can boost a Tendon-Tempering cultivator by one stage.¡±* Huang Tie pressed it into Wu Yuan¡¯s hand, bowed, and sprinted back to his squad. ¡°An honest man.¡± Wu Yuan pocketed the crystal. With both squads operating smoothly, he headed to inspect the logging team next. Chapter 10 - Python-Dragon Body Movement Technique Chapter 10: Python-Dragon Body Movement Technique Since the logging team was not far from the base, backed against a cliff and shielded by complex terrain in front, they had not been attacked by demonic humans or vicious insects. For those monsters to reach them, they would have to cross the intimidation zone of the relay station or pass through the forest. The team had already cut down a pile of Hardgold Wood and was transporting it back to the station in batches. Next, the quarrying team. They were even closer to the station than the loggers and were currently in high spirits, gathering stones everywhere. The gentle slope of the nearest rocky cliff was already scattered with rubble of various sizes, a small portion of which contained the Steelblue Stone needed for the station. After some basic polishing, they could transport the suitable stones back. By now, the stones piled in the station¡¯s courtyard had formed a small hill. Calculating that Chen Yong would soon return with his team, Wu Yuan went back to the station to wait in the main hall. Sure enough, before long, Chen Yong hurried back, looking somewhat disheveled. Wu Yuan glanced behind him. Fortunately, only a few were injured, and none had died. He let out a sigh of relief. Before Chen Yong could even catch his breath, he quickly clasped his hands and reported: ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve scouted the area within five miles north of the station. There are quite a few vicious insects and demonic humans, and they¡¯re slowly gathering toward the station. Even more are further away, we need to be on high alert.¡± Wu Yuan nodded. ¡°What about nearby resources?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve confirmed two locations. Three miles northwest, there¡¯s a small open-pit Yuan Coal mine. I brought back a few samples. The quality is decent, but if we transport it back to Qingqiao Town, it probably won¡¯t fetch a good price. Five miles northeast, within visible range, no more than seven or eight miles,there are piles of Blue Yuan Copper sand. At least ten of them. But the area is infested with over a thousand Blue-Eyed Insects. These vicious insects are terrifying. They rarely leave their nests, and we can¡¯t afford to provoke them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not worth risking so many Blue-Eyed Insects for Blue Yuan Copper. The deposits lie right on the main path to the Demon Insect Hills. Such obvious bait must have tempted mercenaries before. But since the Blue Yuan Copper is still there, those mercenaries must have failed.¡± ¡°Boss is wise. Near the Blue-Eyed Insects¡¯ habitat, we did see many human skeletons, as well as those of large warbeasts, likely brought by mercenaries.¡± ¡°It¡¯s sweet bait! Most mercenaries are reckless and short-sighted. If a Gatherer came to the Demon Insect Hills¡­¡± Wu Yuan cut himself off. The rest of his thoughts remained unspoken. What he really meant was: If a Gatherer¡ªsomeone who scoured every inch of land¡ªhad come here, would there have been any opportunity left for him? The treasure trove of the Glowdream Cave would have been discovered long ago. ¡°Boss overestimates them. Gatherers are of high status. They only travel official roads and value their lives too much to come to a death trap like the Demon Insect Hills.¡± ¡°True enough.¡± Wu Yuan felt relieved. Regardless of the past or future, he had claimed the Glowdream Cave. There was no point dwelling on why others hadn¡¯t found it, what mattered was that he had. He took the Yuan Coal samples Chen Yong handed him. As Chen Yong had said, the quality was decent¡ªmid-grade among first-tier Yuan minerals. But his two lifetimes of dream memories contained no record of this coal mine. It must have been small, easily hidden or exhausted early, leaving no trace for others to notice. Now that he had discovered it, whether previous mercenaries had dismissed it as worthless or not, he would claim it for himself. Yuan Coal might not fetch a high price, but it was indispensable for territory development. And Wu Yuan was a man with territorial ambitions¡ªsomething that had remained unchanged across three lifetimes. ¡°It seems we¡¯ll need to recruit more people ahead of schedule,¡± Wu Yuan said after a moment of silence. ¡°I fully agree. With the Spirit Spring Station, Boss has limitless prospects. Now is the time to solidify our foundation. Even several times our current workforce could be easily absorbed.¡± ¡°But where do we find the people?¡± ¡°What about new immigrants?¡± ¡°Absolutely not! Their character is untested. We must be cautious.¡± Chen Yong¡¯s expression turned odd. He thought to himself, Isn¡¯t the boss forgetting he¡¯s a new immigrant too? After a moment of contemplation, Wu Yuan suddenly had an idea and clapped his hands. ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. We¡¯ll buy people directly through the merchant guild.¡± ¡°Boss means purchasing slaves?¡± Chen Yong was surprised. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Slaves aren¡¯t cheap, and their aptitude is uncertain. Using them also requires many precautions.¡± Chen Yong was on the verge of outright opposing the idea, but under Wu Yuan¡¯s imposing presence, his voice gradually trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid. ¡°I understand your concerns. As long as we don¡¯t make slaves a core part of our operations, there won¡¯t be major issues. As for aptitude, take it seriously, but don¡¯t take it too seriously.¡± ¡°Understood. How many slaves does Boss plan to buy at once?¡± ¡°Five hundred.¡± Chen Yong was shocked. ¡°That many? Even for ordinary slaves with no cultivation, each costs at least one silver. For those at the Muscle-Tempering Realm, add twenty copper. For the Tendon-Forging Realm, the price jumps to three silver each.¡± Wu Yuan waved his hand. ¡°No matter. Higher prices mean higher value. Soon, I¡¯ll send you back to Qingqiao Town with our recent harvest. There are also some tasks for you to handle. For now, take your team to rest. In half a day, have the uninjured armed couriers relieve Huang You and Huang Tie¡¯s teams. Remind them, if anyone breaks through on the spot, let them stabilize for a few days. No continuous Blood Yuan boosts.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though puzzled, Chen Yong bowed and accepted the order. Once Chen Yong left, Wu Yuan found himself with nothing urgent to attend to. He walked into the courtyard, where a cleared space served as his training ground. Speaking of training, since arriving in the Tianyuan World, he had been too busy scheming to focus on cultivation. Now that he had established a foothold, it was time to prioritize increasing his strength. His clone in the Soul Suppression Tower was currently practicing the Recumbent Buddha Stance. This static stance was perfect for a mindless body like the clone. As long as it maintained fixed habits and rhythms in an environment rich in spiritual energy, its cultivation would gradually improve. With the addition of Blood Yuan and elixirs, its progress would far exceed most people¡¯s expectations. As for Wu Yuan¡¯s main body, he planned to combine static and dynamic training, practicing both stances. He chose a technique from his second lifetime¡¯s memories: the Python-Dragon Body Movement Technique. This was a secret body-refining method that merged dynamic stances with fist techniques, a precious art he had struggled to obtain in his past life. He stood with his feet apart, unmoving, yet his body swayed like a willow in the wind, twisting and bending like a coiling python, eventually adopting a posture resembling a swimming python-dragon. Hissing and thunderous roars alternated continuously. After half an hour, his feet shifted from stillness to motion as he began executing fist techniques, still accompanied by the unique hissing and roaring. Python Strikes Prey! Azure Python Overturns! Python-Dragon Swings Tail! Python-Dragon Worships the Moon! ¡­ Move by move, he transitioned from clumsiness to fluency, his movements a blur of speed and shifting shadows. In his second lifetime, he had practiced this secret technique for over a century, accumulating profound insights. As his body gradually adjusted to peak condition, the technique¡¯s marvels began to manifest. Not only did faintly glowing strands of spiritual energy gather around him, seeping into his body to temper his flesh, but the shadows of his fist techniques also faintly revealed the forms of a python and dragon, as if an actual mythical beast were trapped within his strikes. This was the sign of a fist technique reaching mastery. Wu Yuan trained for nearly half a day, only stopping when he sensed someone entering the courtyard. The visitor was Cai Yu, one of the two in charge of the Glowdream Cave. Like the other couriers, she wore coarse linen clothing, but her revealed features and her role as de facto supervisor lent her a unique air. When Wu Yuan had appointed supervisors, he knew that pairing the honest farmer leader Hei Tou with Cai Yu would effectively place the cave under her command. And reality proved his prediction correct. Cai Yu had organized the tasks Wu Yuan assigned with meticulous efficiency. Black Jade Soil was being transported to the station in batches, already accumulating ten cubic meters. Three thousand catties of Black Pearl Rice had been harvested and stored in a dedicated warehouse. She had also arranged for twenty catties of Black Pearl Rice to be hulled, using half to cook a pot of spiritual rice. Now, she brought a full bowl to Wu Yuan for him to taste. Accepting the bowl, Wu Yuan admired the lustrous grains and smiled. ¡°Jade-like pearls, black and gleaming, this rice should be called Black Pearl Rice, and the unhulled grain, Black Pearl Grain.¡± ¡°The name Boss chose is perfect,¡± Cai Yu said with a pleased smile. ¡°If we sold this rice in Qingqiao Town, just this bowl would fetch fifty copper. If transported beyond the borderlands to a prosperous town, it would easily go for one silver.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite knowledgeable.¡± Wu Yuan gave her a deep look. ¡°This bowl must hold at least eight taels, meaning a catty of unhulled rice could sell for over fifty copper. As for selling beyond the borderlands, we don¡¯t have that capability yet. But if a major inter-town merchant group visits, we might name our price.¡± ¡°Boss shouldn¡¯t think about profit just yet. Try it before it gets cold.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Wu Yuan chuckled and began eating. The Black Pearl Rice melted in his mouth, incredibly sweet and fragrant. Even without side dishes, it was irresistibly delicious¡ªthough this might also stem from his origin in a world where crops were drenched in pesticides. He finished the entire bowl in one go, thoroughly satisfied. The abundant spiritual energy left his stomach in a state of perfect comfort. For someone without cultivation, eating this rice while practicing a compatible technique would drastically speed up their entry into the Muscle-Tempering Realm. Even for Wu Yuan, at the early Skin-Refining Realm, the rice was immensely beneficial. He estimated that three months of continuous consumption, even without other aids, could push him to the peak of the Skin-Refining Realm, perhaps even a breakthrough to the Bone-Forging Realm. ¡°Distribute the remaining rice. Supervisors and team leaders get a bowl each; the others can have a taste.¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°Ten catties isn¡¯t enough. Cook the other ten catties of hulled rice and give Chen Yong a larger portion.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cai Yu said, then cautiously asked, ¡°Is this a one-time arrangement or¡­?¡± Wu Yuan thought again. ¡°From now on, every ten days: half a catty per bowl for team leaders and supervisors, two taels for regular couriers. Chen Yong holds the stationmaster rank, give him one *catty each time.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you, Boss.¡± Cai Yu accepted the order joyfully. This meant she would receive one and a half catties of Black Pearl Rice per month worth at least seventy-five copper. Over a year, that amounted to nine hundred copper, a significant bonus. With continuous consumption, she believed her long-stagnant high-stage Tendon-Forging Realm cultivation would soon break through, perhaps in six months, maybe even four or five. Wu Yuan was even more generous with himself and his clone in the Soul Suppression Tower, ordering three daily meals of rice. Cai Yu acknowledged the order and left in high spirits to distribute the rice. Watching her go, Wu Yuan fell into thought. For a moment, he had considered promoting Cai Yu to steward, equal in rank to Chen Yong¡¯s stationmaster position. But he held back. He understood the art of leadership: promotions must not be arbitrary, and favors must not be excessive. Otherwise, instead of loyalty, they bred greed. She needs more observation, he thought. He wasn¡¯t in a hurry. In less than ten days since arriving in the Tianyuan World, he had already built this foundation. There was plenty of time ahead. Surveying the courtyard¡¯s piles of soil, stone, and wood, he decided it was time to expand the station. Chapter 11 - The Marvel of Spirit Fields and the First Mention of Refugees Chapter 11: The Marvel of Spirit Fields and the First Mention of Refugees Wu Yuan returned to the Soul Suppression Tower and opened the station construction interface. The resource column was no longer blank. The station¡¯s control core had automatically detected the various resources in the courtyard, displaying the following: Hardgold Wood: 50 cubic meters. Steelblue Stone: 36 cubic meters. Black Jade Soil: 22 cubic meters. Without hesitation, he selected the construction of a Level 1 Spirit Spring Pool and a Level 1 Spirit Well. Level 1 Spirit Spring Pool Requirements: 5 cubic meters of Steelblue Stone. 5 cubic meters of Black Jade Soil. 10 cubic meters of Hardgold Wood. As soon as he confirmed, an intricate array of runes lit up above the courtyard. Portions of the three resources rose into the air and merged into the formation. Simultaneously, the ground near the Soul Suppression Tower sank, forming a depression. Countless standardized modules of Steelblue Stone, mixed with a slurry of Black Jade Soil, poured into the pit, swiftly forming a stone pool engraved with numerous runes. Finally, four Hardgold Wood pillars landed around the pool, followed by beams, rafters, and stone tiles, completing the exquisite Spirit Spring Pool. Tendrils of spiritual energy swirled around it, and the runes emitted a faint white glow. The pool, initially empty, soon began condensing misty vapor laced with shimmering lights. Level 1 Spirit Well Requirements: 20 cubic meters of Steelblue Stone. 5 cubic meters of Black Jade Soil. 15 cubic meters of Hardgold Wood. The same runic array activated again. Moments later, two wooden-and-stone pavilions¡ªone large, one small¡ªappeared on the right side of the courtyard, complete with water-drawing tools. To Wu Yuan¡¯s surprise, the newly built Spirit Well had two wells: The larger well was semi-spiritual, ten zhang deep, producing water infused with spiritual energy. Long-term consumption could strengthen the body, and the well¡¯s supply was nearly inexhaustible. The smaller well was a true Level 1 Spirit Well, only two zhang deep. For now, it produced just one small bucket of spirit water per day, though the supply could accumulate as long as it didn¡¯t exceed the well¡¯s capacity. Though the output was modest, Wu Yuan wasn¡¯t disappointed. As the station upgraded, the yield would increase. Checking the remaining resources, he saw that there was enough Steelblue Stone and Hardgold Wood for a Level 1 Spirit Field, but they were still 3 cubic meters short of Black Jade Soil. Soon, more Black Jade Soil arrived, filling the gap. Without delay, he ordered the construction of the Level 1 Spirit Field. Unlike the previous structures, the Spirit Field wasn¡¯t built within the courtyard, it covered one acre of land. The station¡¯s control core indicated that the field could be placed within the Stone Tiger¡¯s intimidation range (a 300-meter radius). Wu Yuan chose the area between the station¡¯s back gate and the entrance to Glowdream Cave, effectively sealing off a section of the path. Level 1 Spirit Field Requirements: 5 cubic meters of Steelblue Stone. 15 cubic meters of Hardgold Wood. 15 cubic meters of Black Jade Soil. As the runic array activated once more, the resources dwindled rapidly, especially the Black Jade Soil, which was entirely depleted. Outside the back gate, a long strip of gravelly ground was silently pulverized, compacted, and leveled. Dozens of stone steles, engraved with esoteric inscriptions, descended and embedded themselves into the earth. Rows of rune-carved wooden fences encircled the field. Then, a rain of Black Jade Soil fell, evenly coating every inch of the land. Finally, the runic fences glowed, and the buried steles resonated with a deep hum, stabilizing the earth¡¯s veins. A thin mist rose from the enriched soil, writhing with serpentine patterns of spiritual energy. Visibly, the dark soil grew richer and glossier by the minute, as if nourished by an endless infusion of vitality, a truly wondrous sight. The Level 1 Spirit Field was now complete. Wu Yuan¡¯s face lit up with joy. No one understood the value of constructed spirit fields better than him. While the area in Glowdream Cave where Black Pearl Rice grew was also a spirit field, it was a wild spirit field, lacking the runic enhancements of a constructed one, it paled in comparison to what was colloquially called a ¡°domestic spirit field.¡± Moreover, this was a Spirit Source Structure¡¯s domestic spirit field, extraordinary even at Level 1. [Redleaf Cliff Station]. Rank: Spirit Source Tier [Incomplete] (Level 1) Owner: Li Xinyuan (Wu Yuan¡¯s alias) Core Structures: Stone Tiger of Suppression (Rare Artifact) Upgrade Pool (Rare Artifact) Space Spirit Tree (Missing) Core Spirit Array Diagram (Missing) Subsidiary Facilities: Level 1 Soul Suppression Tower Level 1 Inn Level 1 Courtyard 20 Storage Rooms Constructed Buildings: Level 1 Spirit Spring Pool (+5,000 Spirit Energy Storage, +1 Spirit Energy per day) Level 1 Spirit Well (5 jin of Level 1 Spirit Water daily) Level 1 Spirit Field (1 acre, Level 1 Spirit Plants mature in 2 months. Can accelerate growth by consuming stored Spirit Energy¡ªup to 20% faster.) Defensive Arrays: Level 1 Sturdy Barrier Level 1 Protective Dome Offensive Arrays: Level 1 Earth Prison Level 1 Land Net Divine Skills: Lv.1 [Stone Tiger¡¯s Intimidation]: sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Range: 300 meters. Non-registered individuals have their levels suppressed by 10, and movement speed reduced by 30%. (Permanent effect.) Lv.1 [Tiger Spirit¡¯s Fatal Strike]: Range: 1,000 meters. Instantly kills targets below Level 20. Higher-level targets suffer severe injuries. (Cooldown: 3 months. Max stacks: 3. Current stacks: 1.) Resource Reserves: Hardgold Wood: 10 cubic meters Steelblue Stone: 6 cubic meters Spirit Energy Reserves: 210/6,000 (Due to missing Space Spirit Tree and Core Spirit Array Diagram, Spirit Energy conversion efficiency is reduced by 90%. Current daily gain: 6 points.) Upgrade Requirements: 1,000 Spirit Energy 10 jin of Spirit-Tracing Liquid 100 cubic meters of Hardgold Wood 100 cubic meters of Steelblue Stone 200 cubic meters of Level 1 Spirit Soil Wu Yuan was particularly thrilled about the Spirit Field¡¯s acceleration attribute, a feature that would drive cultivators mad with desire. Even though it consumed Spirit Energy and currently only offered a 20% boost, the potential was staggering. In both of his past lives, acceleratable spirit fields had been mere rumors. Even when he¡¯d established territories and acquired Star Source Structures, he¡¯d never obtained one. But now, he had one. Domestic spirit fields inherently sped up crop growth. For example: Wild Spirit Fields: Black Pearl Rice took 1 year to mature. Star Source Spirit Fields: Reduced to 6 months. Spirit Source Spirit Fields (Level 1): Just 2 months. Higher-tier fields could further accelerate growth, while lower-tier ones only had the basic effect. The Refugee Proposal While Wu Yuan was admiring his new spirit field, Cai Yu and Chen Yong approached him together. Wu Yuan maintained a composed demeanor. ¡°What is it?¡± Chen Yong bowed. ¡°Boss, forgive our abruptness. Cai Yu suggested an alternative to purchasing slaves, one that could save half the cost while recruiting higher-quality individuals, possibly in greater numbers.¡± Wu Yuan¡¯s expression remained neutral, but internally, he was intrigued. He needed to test their sincerity. Cai Yu stepped forward. ¡°My method involves refugees.¡± Wu Yuan frowned. ¡°Refugees? Qingqiao Town has been peaceful. Where would they come from?¡± ¡°Not Qingqiao Town¡ªHuifeng Town,¡± Cai Yu said, a trace of bitterness in her voice. Chen Yong quickly explained: ¡°Huifeng Town lies 23,000 li northwest of here. It¡¯s a lawless place, overrun by bandits. The official road administration has tried cutting off their access, but corruption allows illegal passage tokens to be sold.¡± Wu Yuan already knew about Huifeng Town¡ªin his past life, bandits from there had later targeted Qingqiao Town. Cai Yu continued: ¡°My parents were refugees from Huifeng Town. They still have contacts there. If we use unofficial passage tokens, we could bring 2,000 people within ten days¡ªat minimal cost.¡± Wu Yuan feigned skepticism. ¡°And the risks?¡± Cai Yu insisted, ¡°The tokens are made by corrupt officials. As long as we avoid wanted criminals, no one will interfere.¡± After a moment, Wu Yuan nodded. ¡°Very well. We¡¯ll try it after tonight.¡± He looked up at the sky. Night had fallen abruptly, a common occurrence in the Tianyuan World. Above, twelve moons of varying sizes hung in a staggered formation, casting silvery light over the boundless land. Wu Yuan grinned. This world was nothing like Earth. And he was just getting started. Chapter 12 - Iron Chariot Beetle and the Purple Demon Chapter 12: Iron Chariot Beetle and the Purple Demon Cai Yu and Chen Yong had no interest in admiring the moon. Since the boss had said to wait until the night passed, they obeyed and took their leave. Each had their own responsibilities, and the arrival of night didn¡¯t mean work stopped. The natives of the Tianyuan World were accustomed to operating day and night. As long as they had enough rest, working continuously for several standard days was common. As for lighting at night with so many moons in the sky and the distant shouts of battle from the station, it was hardly an issue. Wu Yuan, still uneasy about the situation outside, stepped out under the moonlight to check. Currently, Chen Yong¡¯s team was responsible for mobile patrols outside the station. With four injured, only seventeen men remained, including Chen Yong himself. These seventeen were further divided into small squads of two or three. Fortunately, with nightfall, the rate of monster attacks had slowed by 20-30%. Only seven or eight demonic humans and vicious insects were breaching the station¡¯s intimidation zone at any given time. Though the squads struggled, as long as they stayed vigilant, fatalities could be avoided. As Wu Yuan approached, he spotted a new type of insect he hadn¡¯t encountered before¡ªan Iron Chariot Beetle, charging toward them. The beetle was the size of a van, with a small head and tiny eyes. Its segmented body had rows of sickle-like blades along its abdomen, which it used to row forward in a sculling motion. Its deadliest attack was a sudden charge, slashing wildly with its blades, capable of threatening an entire area at once. Recognizing the danger, Chen Yong immediately dispatched three spearmen to intercept it. One spearman panicked slightly. After striking the beetle once, he failed to retreat in time. The beetle¡¯s blade swung toward him, too close for his spear to block. The strike tore through his leather armor, drawing blood. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Yong intervened just in time, blocking most of the force with his short iron spear and preventing the spearman from being bisected. Still, the rescue came at a cost, another injured soldier, further reducing their combat strength. Wu Yuan realized he couldn¡¯t just stand by. His memories held ample experience dealing with such creatures. Besides, training without real combat would only make him a paper tiger. He decided to step in. Approaching an exhausted archer, he took his bow and inspected the arrows. Many had been reused, their tips slightly deformed. Another shot or two, and they¡¯d need reforging. He made a mental note, the station had a blacksmith among the couriers, and tools were available. Arrow replenishment wouldn¡¯t be an issue. These thoughts flashed through his mind as he *nocked an arrow and drew the bow to full draw. bowstring He aimed for the beetle¡¯s extended neck, its weak point. The arrow shot forth like lightning, burying deep into the soft flesh. Green blood spurted as the beetle let out a shrill, infant-like wail. True to his memories, the severely wounded beetle immediately turned to flee. But its speed was heavily suppressed by the station¡¯s divine skill. Before it could escape, a cunning spearman seized the moment, stabbing it from behind. The spear plunged deep, shredding innards. The spearman, wisely anticipating a death throes, abandoned his weapon and leapt back. The beetle thrashed wildly, its blades churning the ground in a frenzy before finally dying after ten minutes of struggle. During this time, Wu Yuan assisted several underpowered squads, swiftly dispatching demonic humans and insects and harvesting Blood Yuan. When the beetle finally died, hundreds of Blood Yuan strands converged toward him, forming a crimson serpent-like stream, a spectacular sight. The cunning spearman, ¡°Black Loach¡± (a cousin of the honest supervisor Hei Tou), earned even more Blood Yuan, grinning ear to ear. Wu Yuan made a mental note of the man¡ªa talent worth remembering. [Li Xinyuan (Wu Yuan)]. Level: 9 Identity: Borderlands immigrant, mid-grade commoner, commercial courier Cultivation: Early Skin-Refining Realm Blood Yuan: 1,132 Lifespan: 26 / 110 Reaching over 1,000 Blood Yuan was expected¡ªthe monsters attacking the station were high-level, many exceeding Level 10. The Iron Chariot Beetle, comparable to a Organ-Control Realm martial artist, was at least Level 17. These creatures provided not just abundant Blood Yuan but also high-quality materials, some usable for crafting spirit artifacts, like the beetle¡¯s blades, which could fetch a fortune. Of course, the couriers¡¯ success against such foes was largely due to the station¡¯s divine skill: Stone Tiger¡¯s Intimidation suppressed monster levels by 10 and reduced their speed and strength by 30%, turning tigers into lambs. In the wild, a single Iron Chariot Beetle could slaughter a hundred couriers with ease. From this battle, Wu Yuan deduced that as long as monsters stayed below Level 20, the couriers could handle them under the suppression field. But Level 20+ creatures would be problematic, risking heavy casualties, something he couldn¡¯t afford with his limited manpower. Fortunately, the station had more than just suppression. The Tiger Spirit¡¯s Fatal Strike (insta-kill on targets below Level 20) served as a last resort. The attack arrays (Earth Prison and Land Net) could also trap high-level monsters, buying time for the couriers. Defensive arrays, however, were near-useless at Level 1. The Second Wave After the first wave was cleared, scouts reported no immediate threats, granting everyone a short rest. Some couriers collapsed on the spot, exhausted but exhilarated¡ªtheir Blood Yuan gains promised significant cultivation boosts. Three couriers, having accumulated enough, immediately began meditating. Soon, their auras surged, two advancing from early to mid Tendon-Forging Realm, the other from mid to high. Per Wu Yuan¡¯s orders, these three and the injured returned to the station, replaced by fresh fighters. But then seven more people appeared, armed with farming tools? Wu Yuan¡¯s expression darkened. The leader was Cai Yu. This woman was getting bolder by the day. He had half a mind to spank her. ¡°What is this nonsense?¡± Cai Yu bowed. ¡°Boss, we¡¯re here to fight.¡± ¡°With hoes and axes? Do you think those monsters won¡¯t kill you?¡± ¡°I¡­ I want to grow stronger. To serve you better.¡± Her voice grew quieter. Wu Yuan scoffed. ¡°Just you? Or all of them?¡± The others hastily nodded¡ªsome genuinely eager, others just following Cai Yu¡¯s lead. Wu Yuan relented slightly. Letting non-combatants assist could alleviate manpower shortages. But he wouldn¡¯t make it easy. ¡°Fine. But first, get proper weapons. Come back with those, or don¡¯t bother.¡± Cai Yu¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Can we use materials from the storage rooms?¡± ¡°You plan to forge your own?¡± She nodded. ¡°The quarry team has two proper blacksmiths. With materials, they can make simple weapons quickly.¡± Wu Yuan was surprised. He hadn¡¯t realized they had skilled blacksmiths, not just apprentices. ¡°Do it. Supervise the material use yourself.¡± He waved her off, curious what the blacksmiths could produce. This also reminded him¡ªthey needed fuel. The small Yuan Coal mine Chen Yong had found northwest of the station would be crucial. The Purple Demon Half an hour later, the second wave arrived¡ªa squad of demonic humans, led by a four-meter-tall Purple Demon. Unlike scattered beasts, demonic humans fought cooperatively in groups. This Purple Demon was a Level 20 Organ-Control Realm elite¡ªfar stronger than the usual Green Demons (Level 15). Under the station¡¯s suppression, its power dropped to high Bone-Forging Realm, but it remained formidable. Wu Yuan called Chen Yong over. ¡°We¡¯ll handle the Purple Demon. The others take the grunts.¡± He nocked an arrow, targeting the demon¡¯s eyes and toes¡ªits weak points. With Chen Yong¡¯s help¡ªnow at high Skin-Refining Realm after days of battle¡ªthey stood a chance. Instead of engaging directly, Wu Yuan first had the archers focus fire on the weaker demons, thinning their numbers. Within minutes, half the squad was dead, leaving only seven¡ªincluding the Purple Demon. Realizing its disadvantage, the Purple Demon roared, ordering a full charge. But the suppression field affected them unevenly. As they rushed forward, gaps formed, some lagging 30-40 meters behind. The hunt was on. Chapter 13 - Hollowstone, Post Reinforcement Chapter 13: Hollowstone, Post Reinforcement Seeing the timing was right, Wu Yuan immediately dispersed the archers into their respective teams. He then exchanged a glance with Chen Yong and began provoking the Purple Fiend with arrows while retreating to an open, unoccupied area. The Purple Fiend shouldn¡¯t have been lured away, but Wu Yuan¡¯s attacks targeted spots that infuriated it the most. Forced to abandon its charge toward the post, it instead pursued Wu Yuan, determined to crush the ¡°flea¡± in its eyes first. Chen Yong, the ¡°Sneak Attack Prince,¡± seized the moment when the fiend focused on Wu Yuan. As it raised its arms to block arrows aimed at its eyes, he dashed beneath it and relentlessly stabbed its feet with his short iron spear. After all, the Purple Fiend was a barefoot giant with no habit of wearing shoes. Though the strikes in that brief second were tough due to the fiend¡¯s thick hide, they still dealt significant damage to its left foot. The moment Chen Yong retreated, the fiend staggered, its left foot dripping with purple blood, proving the injuries were real. Seizing the opportunity, Wu Yuan fired arrows at its legs, further slowing it down under the combined pressure of intimidation and pain. Chen Yong, ever experienced, feigned another attack on its feet, making the fiend wary and inadvertently lowering its guard over its eyes. Not one to waste such a rare chance, Wu Yuan instantly fired two arrows, blinding its right eye. The loss of an eye drove the fiend into a frenzy. In truth, the two iron-tipped arrows didn¡¯t just destroy its vision, they shattered its sanity. From then on, it mindlessly chased Wu Yuan, its sole thought being to devour the one who had harmed it. This forced Wu Yuan to focus solely on evasion, drastically reducing his rate of fire. Yet this also gave Chen Yong another opening. The ¡°Sneak Attack Prince¡± struck again, targeting the same left foot. With the strength of a high-tier Skinshifter warrior over a thousand pounds of force¡ªthe fiend¡¯s left foot, after repeated assaults, finally gave way. From then on, it could rightfully be called the ¡°One-Legged Purple Fiend.¡± Its fate was sealed. Losing a foot destroyed its balance, rendering its attacks useless. Escape was no longer an option. In the end, Wu Yuan fired an arrow straight through its gaping maw, piercing its brain and ending its life. The fallen fiend didn¡¯t just yield thousands of Blood Essence¡ªit also dropped two Blood Crystals, each the size of a ping-pong ball and a deep crimson, far superior to those previously handed in by the post soldiers. Soon after, the other battles around the post concluded. Fortunately, there were no casualties, and everyone was in high spirits. A few post soldiers tasked with gathering loot rushed over with kitchen knives¡ªnot to claim the spoils (which all belonged to the master) but to relish the process. Especially the two former butchers among them. Dissecting a powerful monster like the Purple Fiend, extracting every useful material, was an unparalleled thrill¡ªlike the joy of fishing surpassing even eating the fish. Wu Yuan watched with interest as they meticulously dismantled the fiend layer by layer: the spikes on its back, the fangs in its mouth, its tough hide, leg tendons, heart¡ªeven its purple blood was carefully collected in ceramic vessels. After days of dissecting humanoid fiends and vicious insects, they had honed their skills. Even the former butcher apprentices now rivaled full-fledged professionals. ¡°These materials could fetch two gold coins if sold,¡± Chen Yong whispered to Wu Yuan. Wu Yuan grinned. After a brief pause, he turned to Chen Yong. ¡°Postmaster, your debts are no longer a concern. Shed that burden and serve Hongye Cliff Post with peace of mind.¡± Overjoyed, Chen Yong bowed deeply. ¡°Thank you for your generosity, Master. But one gold coin is more than enough.¡± Wu Yuan nodded, though inwardly he marveled. A single gold coin would sell for at least a million Longxia Dollars on Blue Star¡¯s trading sites. Never had he imagined casually giving one away. Even compared to his peak in his second dream-memory, his current standing far surpassed it¡ªproof that prioritizing the development of Lingyuan Post had been the right call. Just then, one of the butchers used tongs to extract a fist-sized, translucent crystal from the gutted fiend and hurriedly reported: ¡°Master, we¡¯ve found something unusual.¡± Wu Yuan¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the object in the tongs. Uncontrollable elation surged across his face. This was beyond unexpected! How could his luck be this good, obtaining such a treasure so soon? He silently applauded his foresight in ordering the dissection teams to scrutinize every strange find. And now, the payoff had arrived¡ªno, a monumental windfall had arrived! The crystal from the fiend¡¯s belly was Hollowstone, a rare spatial-type spirit material, incredibly precious. This single fist-sized piece was worth ten thousand times the rest of the fiend¡¯s remains. It surpassed even a chest of Purple Vein Fish-Scale Gold in value¡ªpriceless, comparable to a complete artifact. A true heaven-sent blessing! Wu Yuan couldn¡¯t fathom why the fiend had swallowed the Hollowstone. Did it mistake it for candy? Regardless, it was his now. After carefully washing it, he tucked it into his robe, treating it like the treasure it was. To safeguard it, he took advantage of the lull before the next wave of monsters and hurried back to the Spirit-Suppressing Tower to store the Hollowstone there. No one could enter without his permission, and with his clone guarding it, security was absolute. Yet the moment he stepped inside, something utterly unforeseen happened. A screen of light abruptly appeared above the stone tiger¡¯s head, flashing rapidly with text: [Spatial-type spirit material Hollowstone detected. Optimizing post upgrade plan¡­]. Soon, more text followed: [Optimization complete. Owner, please deposit Hollowstone into the upgrade pool to initiate post reinforcement.]. Reinforcement? Optimization? What was going on? He was baffled. But one thing was clear¡ªthe post¡¯s core, unable to tolerate him acquiring a spatial treasure, was scheming to claim it. Had the core shown any intelligence, he¡¯d have suspected a cunning artifact spirit lurking within. Still, reluctance aside, the promise of immediate reinforcement was tempting. With his current lack of security, if this sacrifice bolstered his defenses, the loss would be justified. Gritting his teeth, he tossed the Hollowstone into the upgrade pool beneath the stone tiger. The stone sank into the black water without a splash. Yet the screen above the tiger flickered excitedly, text rapidly updating: sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Hollowstone confirmed. Extracting spirit material¡­].[Core component detected: Spatial Crystal (Artifact-grade). Re-optimizing upgrade plan¡­].[Re-optimization complete. Reinforcement adjusted. Initiation in progress!].[Estimated duration: 5 minutes.]. Seeing the words ¡°Spatial Crystal¡±, Wu Yuan¡¯s heartache intensified a hundredfold. He¡¯d thought the Hollowstone was a massive windfall¡ªonly to realize he¡¯d underestimated it. The true prize lay within. But it was too late. Expecting the post core to spit it out was as futile as hoping for another treasure-bearing Purple Fiend. The frantic re-optimization made it clear¡ªthis was a one-way trip. Five minutes later, a sprawling white screen replaced the smaller one: [Reinforcement complete. New functionalities listed below.]. Spatial Crystal (Post Core): Partially replaces spatial spirit tree functions. Post¡¯s energy conversion efficiency increased. Current daily Spirit Energy output: 27 units. Tier 1 Spatial Warehouse: Divided into Post Public Storage (9 compartments, 10x10x10 each, totaling 9000 m3, accessible only in Spirit-Suppressing Tower or designated room, requires owner¡¯s authorization) and Owner¡¯s Private Storage (1 compartment, 1000 m3, accessible anywhere within post, clone-shareable). Tier 1 Spatial Membrane: Post footprint unchanged, internal space doubled (including external spirit fields). Functions as defense barrier (no Spirit Energy cost; excess damage consumes Spatial Energy¡ªcurrent reserve: 5000 units, daily recovery: 1 unit). Tier 1 Defensive Array: Spatial Maze. Tier 1 Offensive Array: Spatial Kiss. Other unlisted adjustments required Wu Yuan to check the post¡¯s updated attributes: [Hongye Cliff Post]. Rank: Lingyuan-tier [Deficient] Lv.1, Spatial Reinforced Lv.1 Owner: Li Xinyuan Core: Spirit-Suppressing Stone Tiger (Artifact), Upgrade Pool (Artifact), Spatial Crystal (Artifact), Spatial Spirit Tree (Deficient), Core Spirit Array (Deficient) Facilities: Tier 1 Spirit-Suppressing Tower (Reinforced) Tier 1 Inn (Reinforced) Tier 1 Courtyard (Reinforced) 20 Utility Rooms (Reinforced) Constructed: Tier 1 Spirit Pool (Reinforced) ¨C Extra Spirit Energy capacity: 10,000 units. Daily conversion: +2 units. Tier 1 Spirit Well (Reinforced) ¨C Daily output: 10 jin of Tier 1 Spirit Water. Tier 1 Spirit Field (Reinforced) ¨C 2 acres. Tier 1 spirit crops mature in 2 months. Acceleratable via Spirit Energy (max +30%). Tier 1 Spatial Warehouse. Defensive Arrays: Tier 1 Fortress, Tier 1 Barrier, Tier 1 Spatial Maze. Offensive Arrays: Tier 1 Earth Prison, Tier 1 Earth Net, Tier 1 Spatial Kiss. Abilities: Lv.1 Stone Tiger¡¯s Aura: 300m radius. Unregistered individuals suffer -10 levels and -30% mobility. Permanent effect. Lv.1 Tiger Spirit Strike: 1000m range. Instantly kills targets below Lv.20; inflicts wounds on higher levels. Cooldown: 3 months (stacks up to 3). Current stacks: 1. Lv.1 Spatial Membrane: Doubles internal space (including external fields). Defense mode consumes Spatial Energy (5000 reserve, +1/day). Resource Reserve: None. Spirit Energy Reserve: 240/12,000 (Daily +27 units). Upgrade Requirements: 1000 Spirit Energy. 10 jin of Spirit-Ink Liquid. 100 cubic meters of Ironwood. 100 cubic meters of Blue Steel Stone. 200 cubic meters of Tier 1 Spirit Soil. Seeing the doubled stats, Wu Yuan¡¯s regret eased. The sacrifice of a treasure had been worth it. The extra acre of spirit fields and 30% growth acceleration were particularly satisfying. The boosted energy conversion also shortened the post¡¯s upgrade timeline¡ªsomething to anticipate. But why did Resource Reserve show ¡°None¡±? He distinctly remembered leftover materials after constructing the fields, plus continuous deliveries. How could they all vanish? He rushed out to investigate. A soldier from Firefly Dream Cave reported: A large patch of Black Jade Spirit Soil near the post had inexplicably disappeared¡ªover a hundred cubic meters lost. Next, others reported dozens of thick Ironwood trees vanishing from nearby forests, along with a hundred cubic meters of premium Blue Steel Stone from the cliffs. Wu Yuan understood. The post had ¡°borrowed¡± these resources. Likely due to insufficient reserves during reinforcement, it had drawn from the surroundings¡ªperhaps a side effect of the Spatial Crystal¡¯s integration, granting it teleportation-like abilities. But this was probably a one-time event, unusable for standard upgrades. As his subordinates sought answers, Wu Yuan explained the post¡¯s reinforcement and its changes, ensuring the soldiers adapted swiftly. Later, he inspected the Spatial Membrane¡¯s effects. A thin, watery film now enveloped the post, distorting light slightly¡ªalmost like a mild cloaking effect¡ªwhile creating a surreal sense of expanded space within. He¡¯d assumed the membrane covered the post like an inverted bowl, but behind it, he found a smaller ¡°bowl¡± attached¡ªthe expanded external spirit fields. Next, he visited the makeshift storage room, now linked to the Public Storage. Inside, materials from fiends and insects were piled haphazardly. Only select items¡ªlike the Blood Crystals (20 total: 17 low-tier crimson, 3 mid-tier vermilion)¡ªwere neatly boxed. A shelf held 50-60 oddities from dissections, though none matched the Hollowstone¡¯s value. Another section stored spirit-grade materials like the Purple Fiend¡¯s remains or Iron Chariot Beetle blades¡ªseveral sets¡¯ worth. And ordinary energy-infused materials? Hundreds filled the room. Chapter 14 - The Turtle Merchant Zhu Youqi and the Bird Seller Who Never Parts with His Wine Chapter 14: The Turtle Merchant Zhu Youqi and the Bird Seller Who Never Parts with His Wine After roughly inspecting the storage room, Wu Yuan had an idea and opened both a private vault and a public vault within his spatial warehouse. He placed blood essences, spirit equipment materials, and some high-quality primordial artifact materials into his private vault. For the public vault, he designated one room for ordinary primordial artifact materials, along with a few special mundane materials that had caught his eye. Another room in the public vault was reserved for unidentified oddities. As for the remaining common materials, they remained piled in the temporary storage¡ªno need to move them into the spatial warehouse. He then summoned Cai Yu and put her in charge of organizing the temporary storage. He also instructed her to call for a carpenter to craft neat wooden shelves, boxes, and crates for the space. Cai Yu arrived promptly, bringing with her the first batch of weapons forged by two blacksmiths. These included spears and fang-tipped arrows made from the claws and ironwood of fierce insects, serrated blades crafted from the saw-like teeth of millstone insects, and javelins forged from the spine spikes of green demons. The variety of weapons pleasantly surprised him. He began to realize he had underestimated the talents among the refugees Chen Yong had painstakingly recruited back in the camp. There were far more skilled individuals than he had initially noticed. One of the two blacksmiths even knew how to craft arrows from monstrous insect materials. Given more time, he could likely produce bows as well. According to Cai Yu, this blacksmith¡ªknown as ¡°Uncle Stone Arrow¡±¡ªboasted that his ancestors had once forged Rage Insect Bows, which were at least twice as powerful as the standard hardwood bows Wu Yuan had purchased in Qingqiao Town, rivaling even the military-grade Brute Force Iron-backed Bows. ¡°If he can really forge a Rage Insect Bow, tell him I¡¯ll put him in charge of the blacksmith shop at the relay station and reward him with at least one gold coin,¡± Wu Yuan declared excitedly. Cai Yu brightened at his enthusiasm. ¡°Yes, Master! Don¡¯t worry¡ªUncle Stone Arrow is reliable. If he says he can do it, he will.¡± Wu Yuan nodded, then carefully instructed Cai Yu on managing the temporary storage. He explained the whereabouts of the missing materials and hinted that if she performed well, she might eventually oversee the public vault¡¯s inventory¡ªbut only after excelling in her current duties. Speaking of which, Cai Yu already had several responsibilities, with the Dreamfire Cave being the most critical. Originally, Wu Yuan had only tasked her with arranging the harvest of 10,000 jin of Black Pearl Rice. That task was now complete, with the rice stored in another storage room, and a hundred jin of it already hulled. With the spatial warehouse now available, storage space was no longer an immediate concern. So, he issued a new order: Cai Yu was to organize the relay station workers to continue harvesting Black Pearl Rice, weave straw sacks, and pack both the harvested rice (including what was already in storage) and the hulled grains into 500-jin bags before moving them to the spatial warehouse. He would periodically store them in a dedicated room within the public vault. He had initially considered doing the same for stone, wood, and soil resources to keep the relay station courtyard tidy, but upon reflection, it wasn¡¯t practical. The temporary storage was only about 50 square meters, with a narrow entrance that made moving large logs or stones difficult. Even if they managed, the space would quickly fill up. In the end, he decided only to have Cai Yu arrange for the Black Jade Soil to be bagged and moved into temporary storage, while wood and stone would remain piled in the courtyard. With storage matters finally settled, Wu Yuan returned to the combat team outside the relay station. No powerful monsters had appeared during his absence. Though some fighters had been injured, there had been no fatalities¡ªa relief. Just then, the shift change arrived. Huang You and Huang Tie emerged from the station¡¯s resting quarters with thirty men¡ªfifteen relay station workers and fifteen non-combatants. Now armed¡ªsome with the blacksmiths¡¯ new weapons, others with borrowed standard-issue spears and leather armor¡ªtheir morale was high. What could Wu Yuan say? Thankfully, he was personally overseeing the night¡¯s operations. Otherwise, who knew what might have gone wrong? Days in the Tianyuan World were long, and nights were no different. Were it not for the twelve moons lighting the sky, the natives might not have treated the darkness so casually, continuing to hunt monsters and sing as if it were day. Speaking of singing¡ªafter dealing with another wave of monsters, Wu Yuan took a moment to appreciate how quickly the non-combatants had adapted, now showing signs of becoming proficient monster hunters. Then, an eerie, half-song, half-chant drifted faintly from the other side of Redleaf Cliff: ¡°I come treading the moonlight, the moonlight urges me away¡­ Through ten thousand miles of borderlands, none compare to Zhu Youqi¡­¡± Listening closely, the ¡°song¡± was barely recognizable as such¡ªits content so bizarre it made Wu Yuan¡¯s lips twitch. The voice sounded familiar. After a moment¡¯s thought, he matched it to a figure from his dream memories and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Long time no see, you self-absorbed howler. I didn¡¯t expect you to appear at Redleaf Cliff so early. Who¡¯s to say whether it¡¯s the dream memories being unreliable or you, ¡®Zhu Youqi¡¯ the turtle merchant, being unpredictable?¡± With that, he called Huang You and Huang Tie over, giving them quick instructions. Then he returned to the relay station, fetched Chen Yong, and gathered a team of relay workers who were resting after recent breakthroughs. They hitched a rested Yellow Rhino Cart, loaded it with goods from the public vault (and a few from his private stash), and set off toward the other side of Redleaf Cliff. The ten-mile stretch of Redleaf Cliff was safe at night¡ªfierce insects and demonic humans avoided the scent of the redleaf grass that filled the gorge. With the path virtually monster-free, Wu Yuan dared to race through the canyon under the moonlight. The flat terrain allowed them to cover the distance in minutes. Emerging from the cliff¡¯s mouth, they spotted a massive figure turning back toward them not far ahead. Under the moonlight, the figure was unmistakable¡ªa colossal land-walking turtle. These gentle giants often reached lengths of over thirty feet, but this one was absurdly large¡ªat least a hundred feet long and sixty to seventy feet wide, with legs as thick as tree trunks. Even crouched, its shell alone stood three stories tall. A true behemoth! A two-story pavilion was fixed to the turtle¡¯s back, where a man in crimson robes leaned against the railing, reciting poetry to the moon. Had Wu Yuan¡¯s group not arrived noisily, the man might have continued his lyrical journey for miles, stopping only when his throat gave out. ¡°A man of refined tastes, I see,¡± Wu Yuan called out, cupping his hands in greeting, unfazed by the giant turtle¡¯s imposing presence. He knew Zhu Youqi¡¯s temperament well¡ªflattery and cultured conversation were the only ways to get anywhere with him. The crimson-robed man laughed heartily, studying Wu Yuan¡¯s group briefly before using some unseen method to make the turtle halt and crouch. He then leaped down, landing smoothly in front of Wu Yuan. Zhu Youqi was a tall, portly middle-aged man with a booming voice. Without preamble, he asked: ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard tales of Master Zhu, but we¡¯ve never met until today,¡± Wu Yuan replied, feigning regret at their late acquaintance. Zhu Youqi¡¯s face brightened with satisfaction. ¡°Honest and likable. I approve. So, what do you want to buy?¡± Wu Yuan smiled. His goal was within reach. Zhu Youqi was a wandering merchant who traveled the wilds atop his giant turtle, infamous for his eccentricities. If a buyer asked to purchase something first, Zhu Youqi would assume desperation and multiply the price. But if he asked first, prices remained fair. In Wu Yuan¡¯s dream memories, a rhyme circulated about two unique merchants: ¡°Turtle merchant Zhu Youqi, Bird seller never parts with his wine.¡± These two roamed dozens of borderland towns, offering rare and exotic goods. Win their favor, and one might even acquire a set of spirit artifacts or fragments of mystical oddities. Answering Zhu Youqi¡¯s question, Wu Yuan avoided stating his desires outright. ¡°I may need many things. Might I first browse your illustrated catalog?¡± Zhu Youqi¡¯s delight grew. ¡°You even know about my catalog? Impressive! Very well¡ªsince the moon is bright and my mood is high, I¡¯ll let you pick from it. Provided you have enough gold.¡± He tugged a red rope hanging from the turtle¡¯s back, and a dictionary-thick leather-bound book dropped into his hands, which he then passed to Wu Yuan. Wu Yuan accepted it eagerly and began flipping through. The catalog had multiple indexes and vivid color illustrations¡ªpages featuring these were Zhu Youqi¡¯s prized items, priced at least in silver. After several pages, Wu Yuan found what he needed: medicinal pills. Several types had caught his eye back in Qingqiao Town, but he hadn¡¯t dared to splurge then. Despite carrying a Purple-Striped Fish Scale Gold piece, he¡¯d kept his wealth hidden, preferring to appear broke rather than risk drawing attention as a powerless, low-level cultivator. Now, with a small force of loyal followers and the reinforced Lingyuan Relay Station as his base, facing the famously eccentric (but reputable) Zhu Youqi, he could finally spend more freely. ¡°I¡¯ll take fifty bottles (600 pills) of Cleansing Malice Pills, ten bottles (120 pills) of Low-Grade Healing Pills, and five bottles (60 pills) of Blood Essence Pills,¡± Wu Yuan declared in one breath. Zhu Youqi raised an eyebrow. Wu Yuan¡¯s plain attire and ragged entourage had suggested a focus on basic weapons and armor¡ªnot a massive pill purchase. ¡°Hold on, let me calculate.¡± He produced a small black abacus from his sleeve, fingers flying. ¡°Cleansing Malice Pills at 50 copper per pill¡ª600 pills make 300 silver. Low-Grade Healing Pills at 1 silver each¡ª120 pills total. Blood Essence Pills at 20 silver each¡ª60 pills make 1,200 silver. Grand total: 1,620 silver. Call it 16 gold coins if you¡¯re paying in gold.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not settle the total yet,¡± Wu Yuan said, looking up from the catalog. ¡°Do you have Three-Blood Pills? I don¡¯t see them listed.¡± Zhu Youqi¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°You even know of Three-Blood Pills? They¡¯re not in the catalog¡ªthey¡¯re a second-tier pill. But I have one bottle on me. If you want it, gold alone won¡¯t suffice.¡± ¡°I know. Will this do?¡± Wu Yuan turned, retrieved a small wooden box from the cart, and handed it over. ¡°A box of blood essences? Twenty of them?¡± Zhu Youqi¡¯s surprise was palpable. This was his second shock of the night. At first glance, Wu Yuan¡¯s group had seemed unremarkable in cultivation¡ªhence his lack of caution. Finding one or two blood essences among them could be attributed to luck, but twenty¡ªseventeen low-grade and three mid-grade¡ªdefied belief. ¡°Low-grade at 30 silver each¡ª17 make 510 silver. Mid-grade at 2 gold each¡ª3 make 6 gold. Total: 11.1 gold. Tell you what¡ªtrade them for the Three-Blood Pills. If you agree, the bottle is yours.¡± He produced a white jade pill bottle from his robe, its seal intact¡ªclearly a freshly refined, unopened batch. Wu Yuan nodded. ¡°Fair enough. Done.¡± He took the bottle, broke the seal, and confirmed it held twelve round pills, each bearing three faint blood patterns. He couldn¡¯t help but smile. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 15 - Cleansing Malice, Hidden Truths Chapter 15: Cleansing Malice, Hidden Truths The pill bottle left his hand. Zhu Youqi suddenly felt a pang of resentment. ¡°Lucky you, these are all mid-grade pills.¡± He had originally prepared this bottle for himself, but business was business. Low-tier Blood Crystals he could pass up, but mid-tier ones were rare finds. Three mid-tier Blood Crystals could refine at least twenty-four Three-Blood Pills, sometimes even thirty-six. With luck, there might even be two or three high-grade pills among them. How could he resist? Wu Yuan, of course, knew that Three-Blood Pills required mid-tier Blood Crystals as their primary ingredient, while Blood Crystal Pills used low-tier ones. In fact, he could even refine both himself. But alchemy wasn¡¯t simple. Even with the main ingredient, one needed the right environment, supplementary herbs, and the alchemist¡¯s own cultivation level. Right now, he lacked all of these. So, selling the main ingredient for finished pills was his only option. He continued flipping through the catalog. When he reached the spirit herb seeds section, Wu Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Three thousand tuber seeds of Mountain Celery Root, three hundred pit seeds of Qi-Circulating Fruit, and three hundred Jade Tiger Ginseng seeds.¡± Before Zhu Youqi could tally the cost, Wu Yuan swiftly turned the page to the weapons and equipment section. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ten high-tier Yuan Artifact longswords. Ten high-tier Yuan Artifact Alligator-Tendon Divine Arm Bows, plus three hundred low-tier Yuan Artifact Alligator-Scale Arrows. Twenty sets of mid-tier Yuan Artifact light armor (two-piece). Twenty pairs of low-tier Yuan Artifact Featherflight Boots. And three low-tier Spirit Artifact Silver Python Swords. Just as Wu Yuan was about to keep browsing, Zhu Youqi hastily raised his hand, wearing a pained smile. ¡°Hold on! Kid, are you trying to clean me out?¡± Wu Yuan glanced at the towering stacks of goods on the giant tortoise¡¯s back and shook his head. ¡°You flatter me, Master Zhu. These are just minor purchases¡ªhardly a drop in the ocean of your stock.¡± Zhu Youqi¡¯s mood instantly improved. He chuckled. ¡°More than a drop, but thankfully, I stocked up recently for the Cloudjade Rain Mountain market eight thousand miles west. Otherwise, you¡¯d have left me scrambling.¡± ¡°Enough chatter. Three Silver Python Swords: 30 gold. Ten longswords: 3 gold. Ten Divine Arm Bows: 4 gold. Three hundred Alligator-Scale Arrows: 3 gold. Twenty light armor sets: 5 gold. Twenty Featherflight Boots: 3 gold. Mountain Celery Roots: 3 gold. Qi-Circulating Fruit seeds: 1.5 gold. Jade Tiger Ginseng seeds: 2 gold. Total: 54.5 gold. Add the 16 gold for the pills, and it¡¯s 70.5 gold.¡± ¡°What if we add these two?¡± While Zhu Youqi calculated, Wu Yuan had flipped to the catalog¡¯s last page¡ªwhere he spotted two materials of immense value to him. Zhu Youqi didn¡¯t even need to look. He knew exactly what Wu Yuan meant. ¡°Illusory Wave Liquid and Shatterhowl Stone?¡± He fell into deep thought, as if weighing a dilemma, but finally quoted: ¡°Thirty gold for a vial (100 drops) of Illusory Wave Liquid. Fifty gold for the Shatterhowl Stone (head-sized). Final offer.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Wu Yuan didn¡¯t haggle. He knew Zhu Youqi¡¯s prices were fair¡ªpossibly even better than what major merchants would offer. Some rarities simply weren¡¯t sold to just anyone. ¡°150 gold total. I¡¯ll waive the odd change.¡± Wu Yuan¡¯s shopping spree ended there¡ªbut he didn¡¯t have 150 gold on hand. So when Zhu Youqi extended his palm, Wu Yuan grinned. ¡°Do you accept materials from humanoid fiends and vicious insects?¡± The Aftermath When Zhu Youqi left, he kept muttering, ¡°I¡¯m losing out!¡± as if afraid Wu Yuan would drag him back. He secured his goods, leaped onto his giant tortoise, and sped off without a backward glance. In exchange for a cartload of fiend and insect materials, Wu Yuan now had weapons, armor, pills, and seeds. Of course, even emptying the post¡¯s entire stock wouldn¡¯t cover 150 gold. Wu Yuan had only brought half the Yuan Artifact-grade materials¡ª400 pieces, worth 30 gold. The remaining 120 gold? He reluctantly sold his long-hoarded Purple Vein Fish-Scale Gold. The price shocked him: 1,200 gold. Meaning Zhu Youqi actually owed him 1,080 gold in return. Had Zhu Youqi really lost out? Wu Yuan doubted it. The man¡¯s barely concealed eagerness when the Fish-Scale Gold appeared betrayed its true value. Wu Yuan seized the moment, pushing the price to 1,200 gold¡ªa sum Zhu Youqi accepted after only slight hesitation. Proof he¡¯d still profit. Maybe at the Cloudjade Rain Mountain market, he¡¯d flip it for 1,500 gold or more. The Return The journey back was a cheerful one. But Chen Yong and the post soldiers trailed behind in a daze. The sheer scale of transactions¡ªdozens of gold coins at a time¡ªhad stunned them. And that heavy money bag Zhu Youqi handed over? Over a thousand gold coins inside. A literal fortune. None had imagined their master was this wealthy. Wu Yuan noted their reactions with amusement. This was intentional¡ªhe could¡¯ve conducted the final trade privately but chose not to. A display of power. By cementing his image as a man of vast resources, he ensured that even if he occasionally vanished (returning to Blue Star), no rebellious thoughts would take root. Back at the Post Outside, the battle raged on¡ªbut with a newfound fervor. Armed post soldiers fought upfront, while non-combatants delivered opportunistic strikes. One side fought with ease; the other grew slicker, more experienced. Only the Huang brothers¡ªHuang You and Huang Tie¡ªstruggled, forced to shoulder the toughest fights to prevent casualties. Their cultivation was still too low. Wu Yuan frowned. He¡¯d love to recruit Bone-Forging or Organ-Refining experts, but he dared not. A ruler¡¯s greatest fear? Subordinates surpassing them. History was littered with lords who¡¯d paid in blood for that mistake. Distribution Entering the post, Wu Yuan willed all his newly acquired goods into his private storage. Not to hoard them¡ªbut because it was the fastest way to transport items within the post. Store in private storage anywhere. Retrieve at the temporary warehouse. Sort into public storage or leave as needed. The soldiers weren¡¯t surprised. Since Wu Yuan took over, the post changed daily. The Spatial Membrane alone had awed them. Rumors of the spatial warehouse only deepened their reverence. As the ox cart was led away, Wu Yuan stopped Chen Yong. He handed out Cleansing Malice Pills¡ªtwo per soldier¡ªwith instructions: ¡°Take one now. You¡¯ll be combat-ready in half a day. Save the second for your next breakthrough.¡± The men accepted them gratefully. Chen Yong, however, was held back. ¡°You think I made them hold back after breakthroughs for no reason?¡± Wu Yuan smirked, handing him an entire bottle. Chen Yong¡¯s hands trembled. ¡°This¡ªthis is too generous!¡± Wu Yuan waved it off. ¡°Your growth benefits us all. ¡°From now on, every soldier using Blood Essence to cultivate must take these. ¡°You know malice lingers, hindering progress. But did you know? ¡°At the same level, those who don¡¯t cleanse malice are 10-30% weaker than those who do.¡± Chen Yong paled. ¡°What?!¡± This was never public knowledge. Most couldn¡¯t afford the pills anyway¡ªso why spread despair? Wu Yuan¡¯s smile turned icy. ¡°Even if it were known, what good would it do? The cost is prohibitive.¡± Chen Yong sighed. ¡°Maybe those in the know prefer keeping it quiet.¡± Wu Yuan nodded silently, dismissing him. Under the moonlight, his mood darkened. Chen Yong was right. Not just the native elites¡ªeven Wu Yuan wouldn¡¯t reveal this. In his second dream-memory, he¡¯d tried playing the savior. It brought only disaster. This time? No mercy. Even if countless souls were doomed to stagnation or madness, he wouldn¡¯t waver. But his heart ached for his fellow transmigrators. Those who loved this world most would suffer deepest. Lost in thought, he wandered the post aimlessly. When he encountered Caiyu, even her usual teasing failed to lift his spirits. He simply handed her two more pill bottles for distribution and retreated to the Spirit-Suppressing Tower. Chapter 16 - Mid-Stage Skin-Shedding Realm, Mask Upgrade Chapter 16: Mid-Stage Skin-Shedding Realm, Mask Upgrade Soul-Suppressing Tower Wu Yuan first checked on his doppelg?nger¡¯s condition. Since he had ventured ten miles away earlier, the doppelg?nger had moved beyond his control range and could only act on instinct. The situation was better than expected. The doppelg?nger had been cultivating inside the Soul-Suppressing Tower and, even after briefly losing control, maintained this habit¡ªstill practicing the Reclining Buddha Stance. Relieved, Wu Yuan considered experimenting more with this uncontrolled state in the future. Perhaps he could discover a better ¡°method¡± for managing the doppelg?nger. Next, he willed the bottle of Three-Blood Pills into his hand. Given his current cultivation level, Blood Essence Pills would have sufficed. However, the ones Zhu Youqi sold were low-grade, which Wu Yuan found unsatisfactory. So, he decided to splurge and use the Three-Blood Pills for his cultivation. What did it feel like to swallow a pill worth a million Longxia coins? Wu Yuan wanted to tell the world: ¡°Bliss.¡± No¡ªsheer euphoria! The Three-Blood Pills used mid-grade blood essence as the primary ingredient, supplemented by the refined blood of two other exotic beasts and various spiritual herbs. The mid-grade version had a smoother, more potent effect. The moment it entered his mouth, it dissolved into streams of scorching blood essence that surged toward his heart. He could practically hear his heart pounding several times louder than usual¡ªyet instead of discomfort, he felt an overwhelming surge of vitality radiating from his core. Seizing the moment, he swiftly transitioned into the dynamic stance of Serpent-Dragon Body Movement. After a while, he shifted from stance-work to fist techniques. Right there in the Soul-Suppressing Tower, he locked the pill¡¯s effects into his heart as his aura grew increasingly formidable. Half an hour later, his aura peaked¡ªthen exploded past its limits, propelling him to new heights before continuing to climb. His fists never stopped moving. The Three-Blood Pills¡¯ energy continued to pour forth. Two full hours passed before his body-refining cultivation stabilized at the pinnacle of the mid-stage Skin-Shedding Realm, teetering on the brink of advancing to the high-stage. Rather than forcing the breakthrough, he steadied his cultivation, allowing his foundation to solidify. When he finally retracted his fists, he noticed his skin had tightened significantly, now bearing a jade-like sheen¡ªso smooth he couldn¡¯t resist touching it. Next came the doppelg?nger¡¯s breakthrough. Originally, he had planned to use Three-Blood Pills for the doppelg?nger. But after experiencing the mid-grade pill¡¯s intensity firsthand, he worried the doppelg?nger might not withstand it. For safety, he opted for Blood Essence Pills instead. Though the low-grade pills had flaws, they were still tier-one elixirs. As long as he didn¡¯t overuse them, they wouldn¡¯t harm the doppelg?nger¡¯s cultivation. A Blood Essence Pill (20 silver per pill) floated toward the doppelg?nger, which promptly swallowed it. Wu Yuan focused on guiding the doppelg?nger¡¯s movements, shifting it from the Reclining Buddha Stance to Serpent-Dragon Body Movement. His goal was to test whether the doppelg?nger could practice this technique independently without his direct control. The results far exceeded his expectations. After just one cycle of the Serpent-Dragon Body Movement, the doppelg?nger flawlessly replicated the entire technique. Even when Wu Yuan deliberately withdrew his conscious control, the doppelg?nger continued executing the movements perfectly. Before long, the doppelg?nger¡¯s aura also began fluctuating¡ªeffortlessly breaking through to the high-stage Tendon-Tempering Realm. As a result, the identity tokens for both the original and the doppelg?nger updated: [Li Xinyuan]. Level: 10 Status: Wasteland Immigrant, Mid-Grade Refugee, Relay Station Courier Cultivation: Mid-Stage Skin-Shedding Realm Blood Essence: 3,682 Lifespan: 26 / 110 [Zhou Zisheng]. Level: 7 Status: Wasteland Immigrant, Mid-Grade Refugee, Relay Station Courier Cultivation: High-Stage Tendon-Tempering Realm Blood Essence: 257 Lifespan: 26 / 100 Cultivation wasn¡¯t like leveling up in a game, where one could skyrocket multiple tiers in a day. Advancing in cultivation was like laying a foundation and building a house¡ªeach layer had to be solid before the next could be added. Otherwise, it would be like constructing a castle on sand: unstable and incapable of reaching great heights. Wu Yuan longed to recklessly gorge on pills for rapid breakthroughs, but he didn¡¯t dare. To go far, he needed an unshakable foundation. Beyond cultivation, there were other ways to enhance his strength indirectly. He retrieved the last two items¡ªIllusory Wave Liquid and Splintering Howl Stone. The former was stored in an exquisite jade vial. A hundred drops amounted to little more than a sip. When he unsealed the vial, phantom waves shimmered at its mouth¡ªliving up to its name. The latter was a head-sized black stone, its only peculiarity being the eerie, wind-like howls it emitted¡ªchilling to the bone. Since he planned to upgrade the Soul-Mimic Mask¡¯s abilities this time, he wasn¡¯t sure if the process would affect the doppelg?nger. After some thought, he recalled the doppelg?nger into the mask¡¯s subspace. For safety, he first removed the Soul-Mimic Mask from his face, reverting to his true appearance. Then, he dripped the Illusory Wave Liquid onto the mask, drop by drop. The mask hungrily absorbed every droplet until none remained. The strange white lines on the mask began glowing as spiritual energy swarmed into it. Several of its cracks and scars gradually faded. Wu Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. It seemed this damaged marvel could indeed be repaired! Originally, he had intended to use the two special materials to upgrade the mask¡¯s Disguise and Doppelg?nger abilities separately. But now, he changed his mind¡ªfirst, he¡¯d attempt partial restoration. Without hesitation, he placed the Splintering Howl Stone atop the mask and, through their mental link, commanded the mask to repair itself. Whether due to his order or not, the stone¡¯s eerie howls gradually quieted, its black hue fading. Once the mask absorbed what seemed to be the stone¡¯s essence, the rock crumbled into sand. Wu Yuan immediately picked up the mask. Upon closer inspection, three-quarters of its cracks had vanished. Simultaneously, a stream of information flowed into his mind through their connection: [Soul-Mimic Mask]. Owner: Wu Yuan Rank: Marvel (Damaged) ¨C Tier 2 Lv. 2 [Disguise]: When worn, the mask can alter the user¡¯s appearance, voice, and aura. Only those three tiers higher can see through the illusion. This ability can be activated once every 500 days. Once triggered, the chosen form remains fixed unless manually reverted. Upgradable via equipment enhancement or special illusion-type materials. Lv. 2 [Doppelg?nger]: Using special life-force materials, the mask can create two doppelg?ngers under the user¡¯s control. Initial cultivation: 20% of the original. Doppelg?ngers can cultivate independently. Upon merging with the original, their cultivation stacks. Control range: 500 meters. Beyond this, they enter autonomous mode, acting on habitual instincts with animal-level intelligence (including self-preservation). Doppelg?ngers must return to the mask¡¯s subspace for three days of recuperation every month. Failure to do so may cause them to collapse. If a doppelg?nger dies, a 500-day cooldown is required before creating a new one. Upgradable via equipment enhancement or special soul-type materials. Lv. 2 [Mask Subspace]: Slots: 1/2 A unique pocket dimension for doppelg?nger recuperation. Cannot store other items. Upgradable via equipment enhancement, spatial materials, or special life-force/soul-type materials to improve recuperation effects. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Current recuperation bonus: None. Wu Yuan was ecstatic. As he had guessed, partial restoration elevated the mask to Tier 2, significantly boosting its abilities. This suggested the Soul-Mimic Mask¡¯s complete form might be a high-tier marvel. Otherwise, even in its damaged state, it wouldn¡¯t have advanced a full rank from mere repairs. The shortened cooldown on Disguise wasn¡¯t immediately useful, but the enhanced concealment effect meant fewer people could see through him¡ªa major advantage. The upgrades to Doppelg?nger pleased him even more. An additional doppelg?nger, increased control range, and doubled initial cultivation all expanded his options. Most importantly, the improved intelligence in autonomous mode hinted at the doppelg?nger¡¯s potential for growth. Perhaps one day, unless necessary, the doppelg?nger wouldn¡¯t need his control at all¡ªfunctioning like a fully sentient being. As for the Mask Subspace, the changes were minimal. Strangely, the mask¡¯s upgrade hadn¡¯t improved its recuperation effects. Wu Yuan guessed the Splintering Howl Stone simply had no bearing on subspace enhancements. Reattaching the mask, he resumed his Li Xinyuan guise. With a thought, the doppelg?nger emerged from the subspace. It had undergone subtle changes¡ªits aura, already stronger after the breakthrough, now seemed even more robust without appearing unstable. Puzzled, Wu Yuan checked its attributes through the mask: Wu Yuan ¨C First Doppelg?nger [Earth Spirit Elixir * Enhanced]. Attribute: A doppelg?nger created by the Soul-Mimic Mask using the owner¡¯s blood and Earth Spirit Elixir. Due to the elixir¡¯s enhancement, it surpasses the mask¡¯s base capabilities. Now further empowered by the mask¡¯s upgrade. Physical Cultivation: Peak Tendon-Tempering Realm Control Range: 2,500 meters Recuperation Interval: Three days every six months As expected, its cultivation had advanced another sub-stage, while control range and recuperation intervals had doubled. After some thought, Wu Yuan realized the doppelg?nger¡¯s improvements stemmed from the mask¡¯s upgrade. Recalling the Doppelg?nger skill¡¯s description, he grasped the underlying principle. Initially, he had worried that as his main body progressed, the first doppelg?nger¡ªstarting at only 10% of his cultivation¡ªmight fall behind. But the Soul-Mimic Mask had delivered an incredible surprise, resolving many potential issues in one upgrade. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Half a day had passed since Wu Yuan entered the Soul-Suppressing Tower¡ªfirst refining pills to boost his cultivation, then upgrading the mask. He still had other matters to attend to. Retrieving five high-grade primordial artifact longswords, ten mid-grade light armor sets, ten low-grade Feather-Step Boots, and five bottles of low-grade healing pills, he placed them in the temporary storage. During a lull in the fighting outside, he summoned key personnel: Chen Yong, Huang You, Huang Tie, Cai Yu, Blackhead, Ma Jin, Shi Zhan¡ªand even the ¡°Black Loach¡± who had slain the Iron-Carapace Centipede, now a candidate for promotion. He showed them the newly stocked arsenal and medicinal pills. These items wouldn¡¯t be distributed freely rewarding meritless favor wasn¡¯t his way. Instead, he devised an alternative: loaning the equipment. This also served as preparation in case powerful monsters attacked the relay station. Once they earned sufficient merit, the weapons and gear would be formally awarded to them and even the ordinary couriers.