Chapter 231: 231. Chapter 228: Arriving at Ladi Canyon

231. Chapter 228: Arriving at Ladi Canyon

Early the next morning, Li Xuan got up early, sat in his room and took out some ancient books to read.

After all, this is Tian Dou City, a place closely watched by the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, and Li Xuan did not want to go out and meet them face‑to‑face.

So he could only read while waiting for Huang Shang to return.

By afternoon, Huang Shang finally came back.

"Young master." Huang Shang knocked on the door and said a sentence to Li Xuan.

"Come in." Li Xuan closed the book he was holding and said to the doorway.

"Young master, without failing the mission! This is the thing you wanted." Huang Shang pushed the door open, cradling a blue brocade box, came before Li Xuan and handed the box to him.

Li Xuan nodded, opened the box, and the contents were exactly the same as drawn in the illustrated manual.

Li Xuan reached out, lifted the item, and without hesitation snapped off the central gem.

It was a pale‑blue, semi‑transparent rhombus crystal, within which a faint white Seed sprout could be seen, though if one wasn't careful, the sprout would be completely unnoticed.

The moment he touched it, Li Xuan felt a faint chill emanating from the Seed's surface.

Li Xuan examined the Seed carefully for a while, then nodded with satisfaction, confident that his judgment was flawless—it truly was a seed of the Extreme Spirit Ice Bud.

Then Li Xuan employed the Medicine Appraisal Technique to further confirm his assessment.

【Plant: Extreme Spirit Ice Bud】

【Quality: Immortal Grade】

【Cultivation: 0 years】

【Description: One of the top Immortal Grade spirit plants, it grows for three thousand years, blooms after three thousand years, and can be consumed after three thousand years; eating it clears the mind and brightens the spirit, forges the meridians, and greatly enhances the channels, containing icy soul flame; after consumption there is a certain chance to obtain a special flame.】

"Fourth Soul Ring is in hand!" Li Xuan smiled faintly, suppressing his inner excitement, took out a Jade Box, placed the Seed inside, then put it into the space of the Sky‑Grasping Vessel, waiting for a moment of availability before planting the Seed near the Hot Spring.

Although the Extreme Spirit Ice Bud is very valuable, Li Xuan, having seen many Immortal Grade spirit plants, would not act rashly because of it.

As for the remaining items after extracting the Seed, Li Xuan simply threw them to Huang Shang.

"Young master, is this thing so valuable? Or should you keep it?" Huang Shang wanted to refuse, but did not dare to throw the item back to Li Xuan.

Li Xuan looked at Huang Shang's awkward expression, smiled faintly, a surge of soul power, and the item shattered into fragments.

"Young master, since the items have been delivered, I will go arrange the caravan to continue procuring supplies. By the way, Young master, the caravan departs early tomorrow, you need to get up early." Huang Shang bowed respectfully to Li Xuan, then turned and left, not disturbing Li Xuan.

"Fine." Li Xuan replied without even lifting his head.

Li Xuan's attention remained on the Extreme Spirit Ice Bud seed, so he merely waved at Huang Shang without saying much.

Huang Shang, seeing Li Xuan's demeanor, shook his head helplessly and left Li Xuan's room.

After Huang Shang left, Li Xuan's mind shifted, he entered the Sky‑Grasping Vessel's space, found a spot rich in vapor, and planted the Extreme Spirit Ice Bud into the soil.

As the Extreme Spirit Ice Bud took root, a faint weak chill emanated from the soil.

Li Xuan did not use Green Spirit Liquid to accelerate the growth of the Extreme Spirit Ice Bud.

Now all the Green Spirit Liquid is being used to cultivate Purple Thunder Walnut trees and Geng Gold Grass, preparing for the Sacrifice experiment.

If the experiment succeeds, Li Xuan will also obtain a hundred‑thousand‑year soul ring.

"Lately things have piled up." Li Xuan thought of the unfinished cultivation techniques besides the Sacrifice experiment and suddenly felt a headache.

Unwittingly, he had given himself so many tasks.

After arranging the Extreme Spirit Ice Bud, Li Xuan checked the Purple Thunder Walnut trees and Geng Gold Grass, and irrigated the Purple Thunder Walnut trees with today's Green Spirit Liquid.

After inspecting these Immortal Grade spirit plants and Heavenly Material Earth Treasure in the Sky‑Grasping Vessel's space, he left the space.

Then Li Xuan returned to his room to rest and prepare for tomorrow's departure.

……

Two months later.

The caravan finally arrived outside Ladi Canyon.

Huang Shang waved, and the caravan slowly came to a halt.

"Young master, we have reached the entrance of Ladi Canyon." Huang Shang came to Li Xuan's carriage and said respectfully.

Hearing Huang Shang's voice, Li Xuan lifted the carriage curtain, saw the familiar canyon before him, and finally broke into a brilliant smile.

"Finally back!" Li Xuan said cheerfully.

This trip was quite an ordeal, shuttling between the two great empires, but it also served as a vacation for himself.

This outing was not only safe but also fruitful: the Po Clan and Min Clan came under his command, and he also obtained a seed of the Extreme Spirit Ice Bud.

Not only did he resolve the City Lord of Medicine City candidate, but also obtained the Fourth Soul Ring! At that moment, a dozen ordinary people in armor rushed from all directions of the canyon, surrounding the convoy.

The armor was fine, but they were clearly ordinary people who had never undergone professional training.

"Welcome, Young master, home!" All the guards simultaneously knelt on one knee and shouted to Li Xuan.

Seeing these limp guards, Li Xuan and Huang Shang exchanged a glance and shook their heads helplessly.

"It should have been arranged by Zhou Chen, right?" Huang Shang said awkwardly to Li Xuan.

These should be the sturdier farmers selected by Zhou Chen and a few others to serve as Ladi Canyon's guards.

But they are basically ordinary people, with no soul masters.

They only have a warning ability and no protective capability at all.

"Alright, send two people to report to Zhou Chen, and let the others do whatever they need to do." Li Xuan, standing on the carriage, waved his hand at the surrounding guards and said with a smile.

"Yes, Young master!" the guards replied in unison, then turned back to their posts.

"Huang Shang, let's go, we'll enter the canyon! Home!" Li Xuan waved cheerfully at Huang Shang.

"Young master, how shall we arrange the Po Clan and Min Clan, bring them to the Main City?" Huang Shang asked as he approached Li Xuan's carriage.

Hearing Huang Shang's words, Li Xuan pondered. The Po Clan was designated to be sent to Medicine City, while for the Min Clan Li Xuan had not decided yet—whether to place them in the Main City or in Medicine City.

"Alright, let's first go to Medicine City, send both the Min Clan and Po Clan there directly, then return to the Main City and settle the matters with Zhou Chen." Li Xuan suddenly raised his head and said to Huang Shang.

Li Xuan finally decided to let the Min Clan and the Po Clan be together; the two families pairing up can make them feel more at ease.

"Yes, Young Master!" Merchant Huang nodded, then led the caravan onward into Ladi Canyon.

The members of the Po Clan and the Min Clan were also very well‑behaved, saying and doing nothing out of turn, and patiently waiting in the carriage for entry into the territory.

Two hours later, the convoy arrived at Medicine City.

Li Xuan was the first to leap down from the carriage and then approached the carriage of Bai He and Yang Wudi, saying.

"Grandfather Bai He, Senior Yang, we've arrived. You two, together with the Min Clan and the Po Clan, please dismount here first," Li Xuan said to Bai He and Yang Wudi.

After hearing Li Xuan's words, Bai He and Yang Wudi finally jumped down from the carriage and stood before Li Xuan.

The two, just after leaping from the carriage, saw before them a massive, empty city: uniformly arranged dwellings, a grand Treasury of Hidden Herbs, and a spacious herb‑processing courtyard...

Everywhere displayed the city's wealth and orderliness.

"Young Master Ande, this place is so magnificent—what a huge city," Bai He and Yang Wudi widened their eyes and looked at Li Xuan in disbelief.

Both had seen the world and understood the city's craftsmanship and value.

"Grandfather Bai He, Senior Yang, let the Min Clan and the Po Clan settle here first; I appreciate you both helping me process herbs here in the future," Li Xuan raised his hand, smiling at them.

"This... you give us such a huge city outright?" Bai He said, shocked, looking at Li Xuan.

Yang Wudi said nothing, but also showed a shocked expression.

They hadn't expected Li Xuan to hand the city directly to the two of them.

"Ha ha, of course. In Ladi Canyon there is one large city and three small cities; this is just one of the three small ones. You two can settle here for a while; in the future the city will be managed by your clansmen. Tonight I will host a banquet for you in the Main City, and we can discuss the details of the city then," Li Xuan said to Bai He and Yang Wudi.

"Thank you, Young Master Ande, for arranging such a fine place for us to live," Bai He and Yang Wudi exchanged glances, then broke into brilliant smiles and said to Li Xuan.

"Senior brothers, I still need to return to the Main City to handle some matters; the room assignments here are left to Grandfather Bai He and Senior Yang. You can discuss and decide," Li Xuan clasped his fists toward Yang Wudi and Bai He, then said.

"Then we thank Young Master Ande," Bai He and Yang Wudi said to Li Xuan simultaneously.

"No need for formalities; settle in here peacefully, see you tonight," Li Xuan waved his hand and then left with Bai Chuan.

Li Xuan returned to the convoy; after seeing off the members of the two great families, he also headed back to the Main City to rest, since his residence is in the City Lord's Mansion.

The convoy moved slowly, leaving Medicine City and heading straight for the Main City.

Half an hour later, Merchant Huang's caravan arrived at the Main City gate.

At that moment, Zhou Chen, accompanied by Sun Mu and Han Shucheng, stood respectfully at the Main City gate awaiting Li Xuan.

The carriage came to a gentle halt.

"Welcome back home, Young Master!" Zhou Chen and several others shouted in unison, and then dozens of people repeated it, their voices booming and deafening.

Li Xuan smiled and shook his head, then walked down from the carriage carrying a club.

"Everyone stand up; you've worked hard these past days," Li Xuan stood upright, loudly clasping his fists and speaking to those around him.

"Not at all, Young Master!" everyone rose and replied in unison.

"Alright, business comes first; pack up and we'll go to the City Lord's Mansion for a meeting tonight!" Li Xuan waved his hand to Zhou Chen and the others, then said with a smile.

"Yes, Young Master!" Zhou Chen and the others replied with smiles.

Then, Merchant Huang led his subordinate caravan straight to the Main City's warehouse, and Li Xuan followed Huang together.

Only a small portion of the supplies purchased by this caravan were placed in the convoy; the bulk were stored in Li Xuan's Small Cave Heaven.

Therefore Li Xuan also went with them to unload the goods.

The club and Bai Chuan stayed by Li Xuan's side.

After more than two hours, Li Xuan finally sorted the supplies into their respective warehouses, and without even a moment to rest, went straight back to the City Lord's Mansion Meeting Room, awaiting the upcoming meeting.

……

Two hours later, many people entered the previously empty Meeting Room.

Zhou Chen also brought in a dozen or so people from outside.

Li Xuan looked at Zhou Chen with puzzlement.

"Young Master, after screening and assessment, I have selected a person in charge for each farm to handle its specific affairs," Zhou Chen said, stepping before Li Xuan and bowing respectfully.

"Good, that's fine, but you must screen and assess these people carefully; we cannot let miscreants manage farms, understand?" Li Xuan said seriously to Zhou Chen.

"Yes, Young Master, we will assess them carefully. Young Master, shall I bring them over to meet you?" Zhou Chen nodded, then looked up and asked Li Xuan.

"Alright, bring them over for a look," Li Xuan nodded.

Zhou Chen bowed to Li Xuan, then turned and led those people to stand before Li Xuan.

"We have met you, Young Master!" Zhou Chen, leading the farm overseers, saluted Li Xuan in unison.

"Although the soil in Ladi Canyon is not fertile, its vast area means more land needs to be cultivated, so I appreciate everyone's effort. However, now that you are overseers, you must enforce the law impartially; do not let me catch you doing anything out of line, or there will be only a dead end, understand?" Li Xuan said, sitting on his chair, his eyes sternly fixed on the farm overseers, his voice gentle.

"Understood, Young Master," the farm overseers said, trembling and kneeling in a large group, their voices a bit nervous as they addressed Li Xuan.

"Hmm, fine, have them sit at the back. Later, regarding the Dragon Tooth Rice harvest, I have some matters to discuss with them," Li Xuan, seated at the head seat, waved his hand to Zhou Chen.

"Yes, Young Master," Zhou Chen nodded, then went to arrange the farm overseers.

After a while, the people in charge of Ladi Canyon all arrived in the Meeting Room.

Each took their seat, Li Xuan nodded, then stood up and said.

"Everyone, I've been away for over five months; under your stewardship Ladi Canyon has not only avoided trouble but flourished. Your contributions are indispensable; here, I, Li Xuan, thank you all." (End of chapter)