Chapter 218: 218. Chapter 215: Leaving the Territory

218. Chapter 215: Leaving the Territory

Seeing Li Xuan's impatient expression, Zhou Chen also gave a helpless smile, still that youthful temperament.

"Yes, Young Master." Zhou Chen smiled, nodded, then turned and went to find Huang Shang.

A few minutes later, Huang Shang appeared before Li Xuan.

"Your subordinate Huang Shang has seen the Young Master!" Huang Shang respectfully bowed to Li Xuan and said.

"No need for formalities, sit down. Tell me what you gained from this trip," Li Xuan sat upright and asked Huang Shang.

"Answering the Young Master, this caravan made a circuit along the border of the Tian Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, resold some supplies, earning about one hundred thousand gold Soul Coins." Huang Shang took out a small notebook, then put on his glasses and carefully reported to Li Xuan.

"Although there was income, expenses were also high. At the border we purchased a batch of slaves, total 30,000 people, costing 30,000 gold Soul Coins, and bought two shipments of smuggled ore and supplies, costing 150,000 gold Soul Coins. This trade lost nearly 100,000 gold Soul Coins." Huang Shang said to Li Xuan with some helplessness.

It's really a bit shameful; it's one thing to go out and not earn money, but to lose so much is worse.

Mainly because I had sworn confidently that I could make money.

After speaking, Huang Shang took off his glasses and slowly closed the small notebook in his hand.

"It's fine, Huang Shang, you needn't blame yourself. We shouldn't expect the caravan to make profit in the short term; I can cover any loss. Focus on developing the territory and improving the caravan. Although the territory's construction is complete, there are still many expenses." Li Xuan nodded and said to Huang Shang.

"By the way, Huang Shang, bringing back 30,000 slaves at once—won't that attract too much attention?" Li Xuan suddenly thought of something and asked Huang Shang with a puzzled expression.

"No, Young Master. These are locals near the border; war displaced them, so they are sold as slaves. Moreover, I have the Soul Guide Device you gave me. It won't expose their whereabouts; even if investigated, they'd be similar," Huang Shang said, smiling and shaking his head at Li Xuan.

Li Xuan, after hearing Huang Shang, also nodded. Such border slaves are usually sold directly after villages are destroyed; Huang Shang bought them with money, the whole process unseen by anyone, so no one would investigate.

In fact, the border trade was for these slaves; the spring plowing is near, and Ladi Canyon is short of people.

【7】 "Huang Shang, give the slaves to Zhou Chen; have him assign them to the farms. Hand the other items to Han Shucheng; just allocate them reasonably. Also, the Wine City's output is now stable, it's time to start selling; there's a batch of wine you should take out to promote," Li Xuan thought and assigned tasks to Huang Shang.

"Huang Shang, hand the slaves over to Zhou Chen and have him assign these people to the farms; give the other items to Han Shucheng, just allocate them reasonably. By the way, Wine City's output has basically stabilized, so it's time to start selling; there's a batch of wine over there, take it out later and promote it." Li Xuan thought for a moment and handed each task to Huang Shang, one by one.

"Yes, Young Master! I've tasted the territory's wine; the quality is indeed good, it should fetch a good price," Huang Shang nodded.

"Young Master, nothing else, I'll take my leave now," Huang Shang bowed again to Li Xuan and said.

"That's all. Go back and rest well. I've arranged a plot for you in the Main City, with a residence; it will belong to you from now on. Have your caravan rest here," Li Xuan said to Huang Shang, then waved his hand.

"Thank you, Young Master, for your concern; I take my leave!" Huang Shang's eyes brightened; Li Xuan's care for his caravan warmed Huang Shang's heart.

After watching Huang Shang leave, Li Xuan sighed, closed his eyes; the territory grew, and so did the matters.

And the spring plowing is imminent; there are even more affairs in Ladi Canyon. —A month passed slowly.

Zhou Chen, Han Shucheng, and a few others gradually became familiar with handling various matters in the territory.

Thus Li Xuan now has far fewer daily tasks; in about an hour he can finish everything.

At this moment, in an open farm in Ladi Canyon, Li Xuan sat beside the cattle pen, feeding the cows with pills using Bang Chui.

"Brother, in another two or three days these cows' cultivation will break the hundred‑year mark; that's too fast," Bang Chui frowned at the plowing cows, hesitantly said to Li Xuan.

"Indeed, with these hundred‑year cultivation plowing cows, the land in Ladi Canyon should be much easier to cultivate," Li Xuan scattered the last pill into the cows' trough, looked up at the robust soul‑beast cows…

"Brother, they seem to have no consciousness," Bang Chui asked Li Xuan.

"It's just forced growth; if they had consciousness they'd cease to be true soul‑beasts, how could they plow?" Li Xuan said irritably to Bang Chui.

"Oh, right," Bang Chui replied, then fell silent.

"The plowing cows are ready, the seeds are ready; now it's their turn. I can finally be a hands‑off manager," Li Xuan sighed, looking at the thriving soul‑beast cows.

"Hmm, brother, you finally pushed all these tasks out; you look gaunt lately," Bang Chui said with concern, looking at Li Xuan.

"Not a big problem, it'll be fine soon. Let's retreat, pack up, and get ready to go out for fun," Li Xuan said, leading Bang Chui out of the cattle shed toward the City Lord's Mansion.

After a month of development, Ladi Canyon has basically become completely stable; otherwise Li Xuan wouldn't have the mood to study soul‑beast cows.

The camp lacked people, so we could only start with the plowing cows; this way we can ensure all farmland in the camp is fully planted.

Each farm grew from an initial 1,000 people to 5,000, and they have basically learned how to cultivate Dragon Tooth Rice. Additionally, Li Xuan equipped each farm with fifty hundred‑year soul‑beast plowing cows and twenty soul‑beast horses. The Dragon Tooth Rice needed for the coming year is already prepared; we just await the spring plowing.

Weapon City remains the same; in the short term its building heights won't see any technological breakthrough. Yet Li Xuan is not in a hurry; after all, Ladi Canyon is at most a base for brewing wine and growing grain, and it's unlikely anyone will come here to cause trouble.

Wine City is now bustling; every day is a flurry of activity, producing large quantities of wine.

The last time Huang Shang promoted the wine, it went exceptionally well, so Wine City's wine began large‑scale sales. Wine City's wine production has become a pillar industry for Ladi Canyon, bringing 100,000 gold Soul Coins each month.

As for Medicine City, it remains the same; no one possesses that knowledge, so it stays empty and unattended.

"Young Master, Huang Shang is here," a child's voice called from outside Li Xuan's study.

Last time Li Xuan bought five hundred children to awaken soul masters; only ten of them possessed Xiantian Soul Power Level, the rest were ordinary. Li Xuan finally decided to have these children run errands at the City Lord's Mansion and learn basic knowledge from Han Shucheng.

In this way, they can acquire life skills and survive in Ladi Canyon.

"Let him in," Li Xuan put down the documents, looked up and replied.

"Yes, Young Master," the boy outside replied and went to find Huang Shang.

A few minutes later, Huang Shang entered from outside and respectfully bowed to Li Xuan.

"Young Master, I've found the information you asked me to investigate," Huang Shang said respectfully, handing a piece of intelligence to Li Xuan. Li Xuan's eyes brightened; he leapt from his chair, covered the distance in two steps, and took the intelligence from Huang Shang.

The intelligence detailed information on the Clear Sky Sect's Four Great Single‑Attribute Soul Master Families.

Currently among the four families, the Force clan and the Defense clan are doing best, as they each have a specialty.

The Po clan is doing relatively poorly; their combat power is too high and they haven't aligned with other forces, leading to ostracism by the Spirit Hall and local powers. Though they have Soul Douluo‑level strength, life remains hard.

The Min clan fares the worst; they lack skills and strength. Without aid from the Po clan, the Min clan is likely extinct.

"Young Master, are you interested in these four great Soul Master families?" Huang Shang asked Li Xuan with a smile.

"Of course. I want the Po clan at my disposal; they are the natural Medicine City lord," Li Xuan said with a smile to Huang Shang.

A month ago Li Xuan sent Huang Shang to gather intelligence on the four great Soul Master families, to know both oneself and the enemy.

"The Po clan is not easy to subdue," Huang Shang said with a smile to Li Xuan.

"What? Do you have a good plan?" Li Xuan asked Huang Shang, puzzled.

"Young Master, I suggest you first subdue the Min clan; then contacting the Po clan will have a higher chance, since the Min clan is already on the brink of collapse," Huang Shang said with a smile.

"Makes sense!" Li Xuan's eyes brightened upon hearing Huang Shang.

At this time the Min clan is relatively easy to recruit; since they're already on the brink, a few benefits can win them over.

Bai He of the Min Clan and Yang Wudi are still friends, so recruiting Bai He would increase the chance of recruiting Yang Wudi.

But the Min Clan cannot be fully trusted; Li Xuan knows that Bai He is Tang San's uncle, and the Heaven-Shaking Cannon in Ladi Canyon must not be known to Bai He, otherwise that fellow would have to give Tang San one even if he died, and Li Xuan cannot bear to part with his Heaven-Shaking Cannon.

Therefore, even if the Min Clan is successfully recruited, they must not be allowed to access the core secret in Ladi Canyon.

"Huang Shang, arrange a false identity for me in the Tian Dou Empire, and after the spring plowing ends, I will go to the Tian Dou Empire myself," Li Xuan rubbed his forehead and said to Huang Shang.

"Yes, Young Master, I will arrange it right away; I will take my leave first," Huang Shang nodded, then bowed to Li Xuan and turned away from Li Xuan's study.

"Go summon Zhou Chen for me," Li Xuan rubbed his forehead and began to think about the next plan.

"Yes, Young Master," the young servant at the door replied, then went to find Zhou Chen.

"Sigh, finally the affairs in the territory are almost completely resolved," Li Xuan shook his head helplessly; the matters in Ladi Canyon are too many, draining too much of his energy, and it's also time to become a hands‑off manager.

Li Xuan lay back in his chair and rested comfortably.

Soon, Zhou Chen walked in from outside.

"Subordinate Zhou Chen, at your service, Young Master!" Zhou Chen respectfully bowed to Li Xuan.

"How much longer until the spring plowing, and are the tools and cattle ready?" Li Xuan lifted his head, his expression serious as he asked Zhou Chen.

"Young Master, there is half a month left until the spring plowing; the tools and cattle have already been prepared and distributed to each farm," Zhou Chen reported the situation to Li Xuan without any hesitation.

"Hmm, good, Zhou Chen. I am planning to leave for a while, so I entrust the matters in Ladi Canyon to you. Here, take this; if there is anything you cannot handle, write it down, and you can send it to me through this thing," Li Xuan took out a Kongming Eye and tossed it to Zhou Chen.

"Yes, Young Master." Zhou Chen steadily caught the Kongming Eye and said respectfully.

"Return now. If any problems arise, the three of you should first investigate on your own; if you still can't figure it out, come to me," Li Xuan waved his hand at Zhou Chen and said.

"Yes, Young Master, you may go out without worry; I will definitely look after the household, subordinate takes leave," Zhou Chen smiled at Li Xuan, then turned and left Li Xuan's study.

The people in Ladi Canyon also noticed that Li Xuan has been somewhat fatigued lately; most of his authority has been delegated, so it seems he just wants to go out for a walk.

After watching Zhou Chen leave, Li Xuan also set aside his work, finally having a chance to go out for a stroll.

"Bang Chui, start packing; tomorrow the two of us will set out!" Li Xuan waved at Bang Chui and said.

"Great, finally I don't have to handle state affairs!" Bang Chui happily said to Li Xuan.

Next, Li Xuan and Bang Chui began packing together, preparing for the journey.

This trip should involve only Li Xuan, Bang Chui, and Bai Chuan; the target is the Us County where the Min Clan resides.

The Four Great Single-Attribute Soul Master Families are surprisingly living mixed together in one county.

Therefore Li Xuan decided this outing should succeed.

Li Xuan and Bang Chui spent a day packing, and finally the travel items were ready; Bai Chuan also packed many things.

After packing, Li Xuan and the others each went back to rest, waiting for the journey.

As for the route, Li Xuan decided to travel along the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest and slip directly into the Tian Dou Empire.

Having spent over a month, the Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm should have already found Geng Gold Grass.

It would be convenient to pick the Geng Gold Grass along the way.

In that case, Bai Chuan's eighth soul bone would finally have a purpose.

After a day of toil, having set aside the other affairs in his domain, Li Xuan did not cultivate and fell asleep on his large bed. (End of chapter)