Chapter 202: A Bad Habit

In Kuangsha City, the goods sold at Yuequan Lou and the Mountain Sea Tavern have made the newly founded lordship—historically never having known a turbulent era—more prosperous than before.

Merchant caravans from the various continents came swarming like bees that have smelled fresh flowers.

The more Beastfolk who have eaten the items from Yuequan Lou and the Mountain Sea Tavern, the more Beastfolk become aware of the benefits of Holy Maiden Fruit, Agave Beer, and other foods.

This was no secret in Kuangsha City; Xiong Yong, a Beastfolk from Sajin City, learned of the thriving situation without having to spy, and immediately reported the recent developments in Kuangsha City back to Sajin City.

The Sa Jin Continent is the largest of the six great realms, its territory vast—from the scorching, barren mineral lands in the west to the extreme cold zones in the north. The Beastfolk inhabiting it are mostly the bear clan ruled by Lord Cha Lan, yet its resources are the most scarce among the six lords, still better than the desert Kuangsha City.

They have long been famed across the continents for their barbaric plundering.

Earlier, Lord Cha Lan covertly controlled Jia Jian in Kuangsha City, having Jia Jian send the gold and treasure gathered from the desert. He merely gave some Meat Jerky and water as payment, yet could use the treasure to purchase various supplies in other territories.

In Kuangsha City, without deploying warriors, large amounts of wealth can be obtained periodically; it is a key and easy source of riches for the lord of Sajin City.

Later, Lord Cha Lan of Sajin City learned that Kuangsha City produced a raw elixir unavailable on other continents, which can keep Beastfolk in a frenzy rational. He immediately told Jia Jian that he wanted another hundred doses of this raw elixir.

Time passed quickly; with the dry season over and the cold season about to sweep the northern Sa Jin Continent, the time for the end‑of‑dry‑season trade with Jia Jian in Kuangsha City arrived.

For many years, Jia Jian has been subservient to his power, overseen by Xiong Kui, and has never caused any trouble.

At first, Cha Lan thought the delay beyond the agreed trading time was simply because gathering a hundred doses of the raw elixir was difficult, so Jia Jian was late to meet his request.

However, Cha Lan had been waiting in Sajin City for the Jia Jian transaction for a long time, and it never arrived.

Jia Jian's silence was one thing, but even Xiong Kui had lost contact; this situation exceeded his expectations, so Cha Lan immediately dispatched people to Kuangsha City.

Xiong Yong returned to the massive city of Sajin City, built in a forest canyon, and in the palace met Lord Cha Lan, recounting everything he had learned in Kuangsha City.

The desert was seized by a Beastfolk; the previously ownerless, desolate, lawless Kuangsha City welcomed its first lord, and all factions submitted without resistance. Holy Maiden Fruit, its medicinal liquid, Agave Beer, and cherry mini radish—foods comparable to elixirs—appeared, prompting merchant caravans from all continents to rush to Kuangsha City, bringing astonishing foods…

Xiong Yong reported at a rapid pace, describing the current state of the barren, chaotic city as if it were a desert illusion—astonishingly absurd.

"Lord, I swear on my divine beast, this is absolutely true!" Xiong Yong said, lowering his head and swearing solemnly at the end.

Lord Cha Lan of Sajin City reclined on the luxurious throne above; his honey‑colored body was robust, his short brown hair neat, a golden hoop adorning one ear, and his brown eyes brightened after hearing his subordinate's words.

Kuangsha City possesses a Spirit Core soothing elixir, a Spirit Core suppressor, a substitute for Female Pheromone elixir, and even something more effective than typical elixirs?

So many good things—he must seize them!

Cha Lan sat up straight, waved his hand and ordered the prince's guards: "Relay my command—let War General Hu Jiao lead twenty thousand soldiers, depart for Kuangsha City at once, locate all the medicinal plants, and bring back the team responsible for those plants along with any valuable herbs."

Xiong Yong's breath caught, and he hesitated: "Lord, Kuangsha City lies deep in the desert, and it already has a lord…"

Hearing this, Cha Lan was indifferent to the lord who occupied Kuangsha City, and slowly said:

"Oh right, also tell Hu Jiao to flatten all the forces of the Kuangsha City lord."

He didn't even regard the whole of Kuangsha City; what does having a lord matter?

A group of inferior‑bloodline races were merely fighting over boneless bones; suddenly a male beast seized the Kuangsha City 'bone', yet it wasn't worthy of letting a strongest‑defense ability wielder who can harden his own fur and hide intervene.

Xiong Yong glanced at the guard who left to summon the warrior legion.

He had been to Kuangsha City; honestly, aside from a few more district guards, there was not even a wall to repel outsiders, and he instantly thought the lord's task was easy to accomplish.

"Hu Jiao has only been loyal to you for just over a year, and you send him on such an important mission… I wish to volunteer as the leading War General this time, to help you retrieve the herbs."

"Hu Jiao has countless victorious campaigns leading troops; you have none," Cha Lan said, looking down at Xiong Yong. "This time, it's a perfect chance for him to demonstrate loyalty."

Xiong Yong: "…"

He stood in the hall, feeling aggrieved, looking at the lord of Sajin City, his face saying something he dared not voice.

Cha Lan: "Fine, I'll give you a chance to learn beside Hu Jiao. Remember, out there you obey his orders in everything; don't ruin my plans."

Xiong Yong cheerfully replied "Yes", and sprinted outward.

In the western part of Sa Jin Continent near the desert, twenty thousand male beast warriors were gathered and rushed toward the desert's edge; their roars and terrifying momentum made the tribal Beastfolk living on the fringe panic and all choose to relocate.

……

After planting that genuine medicinal herb from the mountain, Lin Manzhi and Mo Lie returned to reality; it was already night, so they washed up, slept, and only appeared before everyone the next day.

The lord had been missing for a full two days, accumulating a heap of matters to handle; Mo Lie has been very busy these past few days.

At this moment, Mo Lie sat behind a desk in the council hall, head lowered, dealing with various matters requiring his decision.

Lin Manzhi sat beside Mo Lie, her pitch‑black eyes helplessly watching the male beast beside her.

She thinks Mo Lie has a bad habit!

After the Spirit Core fully healed and even entered her space, he seems to have become more clingy, wanting to be with her at all times.

For example now, when Mo Lie is busy, he always drags her to sit together.

When Hua Zheng arrived, seeing Lord Lin sitting side‑by‑side with Lin Manzhi, he couldn't help but smile at Lin Manzhi.

Just as he was about to speak, Mo Lie, from the viewpoint, stared coldly over, and Hua Zheng immediately regained a solemn expression, lowered his head and said: "Lord, Shamaness Su has already left to return to the Mountain Classic Beast Temple; she has assigned a shamaness named Chen Jing to take over the matters handled by Wen Jing."

When Lin Manzhi asked Shamaness Su Li to help brew the Soul Cocoon Divine Pill, she handed over the promised payment that same day, also knowing Su Li would be eager to rush back to the Mountain Classic Beast Temple.

It's unknown how Lin Ling will react to Su Li presenting Concentrated Spirit Dew, but the current development has diverged completely from the original novel; Lin Ling has taken the heroine's place in vying for the Great Witch position, and Su Li also has a chance to become Great Witch.

All of this is far removed from Kuangsha City, and Lin Manzhi, after listening, temporarily set it aside in her mind.