Chapter 234 - 233: Revival of the Immortal City, Passage of Time

Months passed in the blink of an eye.

With the passage of time, the streets of Weiyuan Immortal City were once again teeming with bustling crowds and renewed clamor.

After about a year, this ravaged trade hub had finally recovered some of its former vitality.

The rising tax revenues on the financial reports Su Ye reviewed also confirmed this.

Weiyuan Immortal City was recovering.

Ordinarily, considering the damage from the battle for the city, the recovery should not have been this fast.

The reason for this was largely thanks to Su Ye’s Grand Ceremony.

Tianhe of the Cyan Profound Sect had humbly offered congratulations and signed a peace treaty, pushing the prestige of the new City Lord, Su Ye, to its zenith.

Furthermore, the corpses of the several Demon Kings responsible for the city’s turmoil were put on public display.

This two-pronged approach helped restore the cultivators’ confidence in the city’s security.

And prosperity and security have always been twin stars.

A safe and stable environment, a source of Foundation Establishment Opportunities, the trade hub of the Cyan Profound Sea Region, and an awesomely powerful new City Lord—all these favorable factors combined led Weiyuan Immortal City to recover at a surprisingly rapid pace.

...

The City Lord’s Manor.

Luo Qing’e sat gracefully as she reported to Su Ye.

"At this rate, Weiyuan Immortal City should return to its pre-war state within a year at most."

"By then, after deducting expenses, the annual net profit from taxes and various industries should exceed five hundred thousand Spirit Stones..."

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she had an astonishing memory and needed no documents, rattling off the figures with ease.

Her form-fitting, dark blue Magical Robe with its tightly fastened cuffs gave her an air of shrewd competence and quiet confidence.

After hearing her report, Su Ye had a clear grasp of the situation in Weiyuan Immortal City.

"Excellent..." he said with a smile, taking a light sip of his Spirit Tea.

"You’ve worked hard, Qing’e."

"It has been a little trying, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. I’m happy that I can share my husband’s burdens."

Luo Qing’e said softly, her beauty pure and captivating.

"By the way, how has the Luo Family been doing lately?"

Su Ye asked casually.

After his Grand Ceremony, Su Ye had officially taken over as City Lord, and the Luo Family had moved into Weiyuan Immortal City, establishing themselves as one of its prominent families.

Of course, this didn’t mean the Luo Family had abandoned Donglong Island.

They had merely shifted their center of gravity. In other words, they had moved their main base to Weiyuan Immortal City, treating Donglong Island as a subsidiary base.

"We’ve settled in well," Luo Qing’e said with a smile.

"The Spiritual Qi and prosperity of the city far surpass Donglong Island. Our clan members are overjoyed..."

"It’s just that..."

Luo Qing’e’s eyes flickered with hesitation, and she trailed off.

"Speak your mind," Su Ye said calmly.

"Well..."

"Lately, the original five major families of the city... don’t seem very pleased about our arrival."

"There’s been no open conflict, but their subtle obstructions have been quite a nuisance..."

Luo Qing’e looked at Su Ye with hope in her eyes.

Su Ye listened, then gave a faint, knowing smile. "Oh... is that so?"

He already knew all about it.

After all, he had used Blood Light Soul Splitting to control numerous cultivators.

He had them scattered throughout the city, planted in every major department and agency, with a particular focus on intelligence gathering.

With these absolutely loyal cursed crewmates, no one could interfere with his access to information.

So not only did he know, he knew the intricate details...

For instance, while the five families were obstructing the Luo Family, the Luos themselves were no innocent saints. How could the five major families be foolish enough to openly oppose them, knowing their connection to Su Ye?

The matter was actually quite simple.

The battle for the city had left Weiyuan Immortal City in ruins.

The five major families had suffered heavy losses, and the old divisions of power and profit had become blurred.

As newcomers, the Luo Family had logically taken advantage of the reconstruction process to encroach upon many of these gray areas, seizing interests that had previously belonged to the five families...

From a certain point of view, the five families were merely launching a passive, legally justified counterattack.

’But... so what?’ Su Ye thought with a sneer.

He didn’t care that the Luo Family was encroaching on the interests of the five families. In fact, he tacitly supported it.

A new lord, a new court.

Now that Su Ye was master of the city, the old power structure was naturally due for a reshuffle.

This was true even with his agreement with Canghai.

The agreement simply meant he had to act a little more slowly and with a softer touch.

But if the five major families couldn’t see the writing on the wall and still clung to their past glory...

...their ruin would be just a snap of the fingers away.

’Still...’ Su Ye’s thoughts turned.

’I can favor the Luo Family, but I can’t just let them run wild...’

’If I let the Luo Family expand unchecked and come into sharp conflict with the city’s other cultivators... it wouldn’t be good for my own interests, for the city’s development, or even for the Luo Family itself.’

’Once they’ve devoured the Deng Family’s Elixir Cauldron Pavilion, the Luo Family’s expansion can come to a halt...’

’After all, Weiyuan Immortal City is vast. There’s enough profit here to support several Foundation Establishment families...’

"Do you understand what I’m saying?"

Su Ye said softly, enunciating each word.

His deep, profound eyes seemed to burn their way into Luo Qing’e’s very soul, making her heart tremble.

Luo Qing’e was intelligent. She understood at once, and a cold sweat broke out on her back. ’The Luo Family has gotten carried away lately...’

"Yes... I know where to draw the line."

"I’ll rein in the family when I get back."

"I know you’re doing this to protect our family, my husband..."

She felt a surge of apprehension.

After all, the Luo Family’s status was no longer equal to Su Ye’s.

Even with their shared history, something like affection could be consumed very quickly if one wasn’t careful with it.

’If we were to lose Su Ye’s favor...’

’...with the Luo Family’s resources, we would just be another common Foundation Establishment family in this sea region.’

’We’d be cast down from the heavens in an instant!’

HISS...

The mere thought of such a prospect made Luo Qing’e’s pupils contract.

...

Just as her thoughts were in turmoil,

Su Ye smiled, stood, and pulled Luo Qing’e into his arms, wrapping a hand around her slender waist.

His warmth seeped into her snow-white skin, dispelling her fear and warming her heart.

"Huh?" Luo Qing’e froze.

"Now that we’re done with business, shouldn’t we move on to more private matters?"

Su Ye chuckled, his eyes softening as if to reassure her.

WHOOSH.

He swept Luo Qing’e into his arms.

He walked to the wall of the room and pressed a mechanism, revealing a hidden passage.

Su Ye’s office had been specially modified.

A section that appeared to be a solid wall was fitted with a mechanism; pressing a button revealed the entrance to a secret chamber.

A wine-red carpet, dim lighting, a soft, comfortable velvet bed... it was a luxurious bedroom complete with a high-end shower.

The purpose of this secret room... was easy enough to imagine.

"Mmm..."

A blush spread across Luo Qing’e’s face, reaching all the way to her jade-like neck.

Her slender feet, clad in white silk socks inside her embroidered slippers, tensed as her toes curled.

"Husband..."