Chapter 168: Surveying the Surroundings

168. Chapter 168: Surveying the Surroundings

"The Immortal Master is back!" a Yellow Turban Warrior shouted upon spotting Li Xuan, quickly calling out to him.

"What are you all busy with? It seems everyone is occupied," Li Xuan asked curiously.

"We are conducting further surveying of the soil and terrain here, but the land is so vast that completing the full survey would take at least a month," the Yellow Turban Warrior said, pointing to a half‑drawn blueprint on the nearby table and explaining to Li Xuan.

"Thank you all for your hard work," Li Xuan said, smiling and nodding after hearing the Warrior's words.

He is only seven and a half now, with several years before the main storyline begins, so he has plenty of time to develop and is not in a hurry.

"By the way, Immortal Master, we discovered some geological issues in Ladi Canyon, but we haven't figured them out; this place is indeed very strange," the Yellow Turban Warrior said, furrowing his brow and looking puzzled at Li Xuan.

Li Xuan also furrowed his brow in confusion; the elder's words corresponded with the Warrior's.

Li Xuan could doubt the elder's words, but he would certainly trust the Yellow Turban Warrior, since the Warrior would not deceive him.

"But what exactly did you discover?" Li Xuan asked, his brow furrowed, addressing the Warrior.

"It seems something is absorbing the surrounding soil's fertility, but we haven't pinpointed where it is... we couldn't locate it," the Yellow Turban Warrior muttered, looking at Li Xuan with a troubled frown.

"It feels as if something is drawing the soil's nutrients," the Warrior muttered to Li Xuan, furrowing his brow.

"Where exactly is it? I'd like to investigate personally," Li Xuan asked the Warrior.

"Alright, Immortal Master, I'll take you there right away; perhaps you have a way to investigate," the Yellow Turban Warrior said with a smile to Li Xuan.

Li Xuan nodded, then led the Yellow Turban Warrior onto the carriage.

Just as the Warrior's body brushed the horse, he suddenly paused.

"Huh? Why does this horse carry Spiritual Energy?" the Warrior asked, suddenly noticing the horse pulling the carriage and looking puzzled at Li Xuan.

"I have a space filled with Spiritual Energy. What's the matter? Do you need Spiritual Energy?" Li Xuan asked, puzzled, of the Warrior.

"I didn't expect Spiritual Energy to exist in this world. We are merely spirits and don't need it, but that six‑rank talisman paper absorbs Spiritual Energy on its own; if it gathers enough, we can manifest more," the Warrior explained to Li Xuan.

"I see. In that case, I'll send the talisman paper into my space to absorb Spiritual Energy," Li Xuan said, his excitement flaring as he hurriedly hung the talisman paper on the Wu Dao Tree beside the Hot Spring.

If the Warrior's talisman can be used several more times, Li Xuan will also construct a small courtyard within the space of the Heaven‑Holding Bottle.

The moment the Warrior's talisman entered the Heaven‑Holding Bottle's space, all the Yellow Turban Warriors simultaneously turned their heads, eyes alight, toward Li Xuan.

Suddenly stared at by hundreds of hulking men, Li Xuan felt a chill down his spine.

But they only gave a glance before each returned to their work.

"Immortal Master, what clever tactics—finding a place so rich in Spiritual Energy. If we could..." the Yellow Turban Warrior beside Li Xuan said with a smile.

Li Xuan sat in the carriage while the Warrior drove, heading toward Ladi Canyon. "Warrior, how long will it take to fully develop this land?" Li Xuan asked.

"Surveying the terrain will take at least a month, the design blueprints two months, construction of the central area and fields about half a year; to fully develop this place will require at least three years," the Warrior said, smiling at Li Xuan.

"Three years!" Li Xuan's eyes widened instantly; he hadn't expected that even with the Warrior's assistance, it would still take three years to finish.

Li Xuan could not imagine how massive the Warrior's plan was! Yet the land behind Ladi Canyon is enormous; if it could be turned into fertile soil, imagine how much grain could be grown and how many people could be fed.

More importantly, if Ladi Canyon were sealed off, it would become a small nation.

"We've discussed it among ourselves. If only we do the work, it will take at least five years, so we want you to procure slaves. We'll handle the crucial parts, and they will do the manual labor," the Yellow Turban Warrior said suddenly to Li Xuan.

"Slaves?" Li Xuan was startled, asking the Warrior in confusion.

When they previously built the old Chunqiu Winery, the Yellow Turban Warrior did everything himself and never asked Li Xuan to find slaves for help.

Now they are actively requesting slaves; it seems they truly can't manage it themselves.

But that works out, since such a vast tract of land will need not only construction but also people to farm.

"Alright, how many people are needed, and this land also requires grain cultivation, so we can purchase them together," Li Xuan asked the Warrior, agreeing.

The Yellow Turban Warrior slowly extended a finger and waved it in front of Li Xuan.

"One thousand?" Li Xuan raised an eyebrow and asked.

"No, ten thousand," the Warrior said calmly.

"Ten thousand!" Li Xuan's eyes widened; he hadn't expected the Warrior to need so many people.

But it makes sense; on such a large area, planting Dragon Tooth Rice will require many workers, and these slaves can first till the land and later build houses, making full use of them.

"Fine, ten thousand. I'll procure them tomorrow," Li Xuan gritted his teeth and told the Warrior.

Li Xuan suddenly recalled something: buying a few slaves poses no major issue, but purchasing them by the ten‑thousand is different; the Star Luo Empire would suspect him of plotting rebellion, so... doing this is far too dangerous.

"It seems... to buy so many slaves, we can't acquire them all at once; we must purchase them in batches," Li Xuan said, rubbing his chin and pondering alone.

The Yellow Turban Warrior beside Li Xuan smiled, shook his head at Li Xuan's expression, and continued driving the carriage.

Li Xuan didn't dwell on the issue; he would still need to consult the Slave Market vendors about how many slaves could be bought at once, and a market capable of selling large numbers must be in a major city.

Soon, the Yellow Turban Warrior led Li Xuan to a cliff on one side of Ladi Canyon. (End of Chapter)