Chapter 422: Lit Up

Qi Luoye wanted to keep a few of his old subordinates, including a tiger that often followed him and a stone that sat in front of his door.

"Back when I fought Lao Shui, that dog tricked me—he didn't face me in battle but led his men straight to my home.

I had plenty of people guarding my place, but they all pissed themselves at the sight of Lao Shui; only the tiger, the stone, and a few others dared fight back.

They truly followed me, and now that I'm becoming a proper territory, I don't want to abandon them."

Li Banfeng truly didn't know how to handle this.

Li Banfeng knew many local deities, and in Yao Lao's case, no strange entities followed him.

The current Yao Wang Gou was once called Ku Yao Guan; Yao Lao had always held this land and likely never experienced the transition from new territory to proper territory.

Li Banfeng didn't know whether other proper territory deities had strange entities with them, nor did Qi Luoye know.

Fortunately, Xiao Yeci found some books containing similar records.

"When a new territory becomes a proper one, strange entities wishing to follow must become Guardian Oath Spirits."

Qi Luoye nodded, as if understanding: "So I just need to give them new names.

This isn't hard—first tell me how to write 'Guardian Oath Spirit,' and give me a month, I'll teach them for sure!"

Xiao Yeci was a little afraid of Qi Luoye; she stole a glance at Li Banfeng, unsure whether this local deity was joking.

Li Banfeng's expression was serious; he knew Brother Qi was speaking seriously: "Miss Xiao, you must explain this carefully—just changing names doesn't seem enough, does it?"

Xiao Yeci nodded: "Changing names alone won't do—Guardian Oath Spirits can only move within a fixed territory, which the local deity must draw out.

After the new territory becomes proper, this area is called a Secret Realm or a Forbidden Zone; similar places exist throughout Pu Luo Province.

These places usually hide the local deity's Oath Contract; Guardian Oath Spirits only move within the Secret Realm, and their duty is to help the local deity protect the contract."

Qi Luoye thought for a long while and understood Xiao Yeci's meaning: "So my contract needs someone to guard it—this job suits my old comrades perfectly.

This is easy—I don't even need to pick a place. Tomorrow, I'll mark out ten li around my home, and let my old comrades stay right at my doorstep. I'll feel safe leaving the contract with them."

Li Banfeng felt something was off, but he couldn't say exactly what.

Xiao Yeci said to Qi Luoye: "Where's your home? Surely many people know?"

Qi Luoye glared: "What are you planning?"

Xiao Yeci shook her head quickly: "Don't misunderstand—I'm not planning anything! After a new territory becomes proper, according to the books, you can relocate your contract once—dig it up and bury it again. Don't you want to move it?"

At this, both Li Banfeng and Qi Luoye realized where the problem lay.

Too many people knew where Qi Luoye lived.

In new territories, land was vast and population sparse; though strange entities had intelligence, their thoughts weren't as complex as humans', and few dared target the contract.

But once it became a proper territory, whether a small town or a large city, the population would surge dozens of times over. Once Qi Luoye's residence became known, people would line up to dig up his contract—he truly needed to move it.

Where would be suitable?

Qi Luoye scratched his head: "I need to think hard—what kind of place can serve as a Forbidden Zone?"

Xiao Yeci said: "I've read in books that a Forbidden Zone isn't limited to one—some local deities have created dozens across their territory, and no one knows where they've hidden their contract."

This made Qi Luoye even more troubled: "This is too complicated. I heard Lao Yao lives deep in the mountains, and many still know his home.

I'll copy him—find a mountain, build a house, and guard it with my old brothers."

Xiao Yeci added: "Once you choose the place, you must sign a contract with the Guardian Oath Spirits—they can never leave the Forbidden Zone again."

The tiger was displeased: "For life? No going out? Can't we take turns on guard duty and rotate to live down the mountain?"

Xiao Yeci shook her head: "That's probably impossible—no proper territory has ever seen tigers roaming freely."

Indeed, no strange entities wandered freely across proper territories.

Qi Luoye nodded: "Miss, you're right. Once this becomes a proper territory, you can't wander outside anymore.

Stay with me at home—I'm here, so you won't get bored."

The tiger agreed readily: "I'm willing to follow Brother Qi—even if I never go down the mountain."

Xiao Yeci whispered: "Think carefully—once you become a Guardian Oath Spirit, you're one for life—you can never become a Wandering Spirit again."

The tiger flicked his tail: "What's so great about being a Wandering Spirit? I'm sticking with Brother Qi."

The stone said nothing.

Qi Luoye looked at the stone: "What? You don't want to follow me?"

The stone answered honestly: "Before, following Brother Qi was fine, but just now, that girl sat on me, and my heart's gotten all mixed up."

As he spoke, a faint blush spread across the stone's surface.

Thud!

Qi Luoye kicked the stone: "Did a peach squash your face, and now your heart's all mixed up too?"

Get out! I won't keep you—go get some cultivation from my place and find your own way!"

Besides handling the contract and Guardian Oath Spirits, Qi Luoye needed to carefully measure his land to ensure it covered a hundred li.

Strange entities with no intelligence at all also needed to be sent away quickly—after becoming a proper territory, such entities might mutate and become hazards.

Li Banfeng looked at Xiao Yeci: "Where did you read all this?"

Xiao Yeci said: "Both the Lu family's library and the He family's library have these books—Miss Yuxiu is very kind; I could read any book in their collection.

The information in these books is very useful, but it's scattered—you have to read and take notes simultaneously to make sense of it."

Li Banfeng silently admired—Xiao Yeci was a diligent Wen Xiu, but she'd never had good opportunities before.

Qi Luoye asked: "Old Seven, is this your sweetheart?"

Xiao Yeci's face flushed instantly.

Qi Luoye burst out laughing: "Why be shy? Following Old Seven won't hurt you.

Old Seven, this sweetheart's better—much better than your last one."

His last sweetheart?

Was he talking about Chu Er?

Thinking of Chu Er, Qi Luoye shook his head: "That one was no good—acted dignified in front of others, but turned into a brat the moment she saw Old Seven.

This one's better—beautiful, speaks softly, and can read books.

Old Seven, you probably don't know—people who can read know tons of characters. You've got to treat her well."

The stone agreed: "Miss, come sit with me."

"Get lost!" Qi Luoye kicked the stone flying and hurried off to deal with serious business.

Various clans lent aid; land was cleared faster and faster, leaving little uncultivated land. Qi Luoye couldn't count well, so He Yuxiu brought a Shu Xiu to help him. After repeated measurements, counted in li-square, they found Qi Luoye's land fell short of ten thousand.

"Over the years fighting neighboring local deities, I made a lot—but when I fought Lao Shui, I lost it all," Qi Luoye said, staring at the ledger, head aching.

He'd indeed won many battles, but he couldn't do math—the lands he won were small, while the nine hundred li he lost to Shui Yongquan were real.

"Can I become a proper territory with less than ten thousand li?" Qi Luoye looked at Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng looked at Xiao Yeci.

Xiao Yeci shook her head: "I can't speak lightly about this—the books say ten thousand li are required."

Li Banfeng returned to his Sui Shen Ju; previously, he'd verified with his wife that Xiao Yeci's information was accurate.

This time, his wife couldn't be sure: "Husband, transitioning from new territory to proper territory is extremely rare—I don't know much.

I've heard of eight thousand li being enough, and I've heard of nine thousand li failing.

Better to play it safe—right now we can't gather ten thousand people anyway. Use this time to have Qi Luoye acquire a few more plots."

…

"Where to get them?" Qi Luoye was at a loss. "The neighbors haven't provoked me—why should I raid them for land?"

Though temperamental, Qi Luoye never bullied others.

Li Banfeng said: "Why not ask Brother Shui? See if he can spare us a few plots?"

Qi Luoye shook his head: "How could I ask? I lost the fight—he didn't dig up my contract, that's already letting me off easy. How could I ask for land back?"

"You're too humble, too shy, so noble!" A ghostly flame drifted near Qi Luoye, and Shui Yongquan's figure emerged from it.

Qi Luoye startled: "How did you get here?"

"If I didn't come, where would you get land?" Shui Yongquan pulled out a map, already marked.

Shui Yongquan said: "Brother Elephant, I took thirty li from you—now I'm giving back thirty, but not in the same place.

Your original land had proper villages and cultivated plots—I can't give those back. But here are these plots—do they suit you?"

Qi Luoye didn't look at the map—he stared at Shui Yongquan: "Old Shui, why help me?"

Shui Yongquan smiled: "Brother Elephant, you've got guts—you're really bold. You're about to become a proper territory deity. I won't lie—I'm envious.

But envy aside, I want you to succeed. One day, when someone asks me, 'Have you ever seen a new territory become proper?'

I'll say, 'Yes—I saw it right next to my home. The local deity is my brother, Brother Elephant!'"

Qi Luoye stammered: "Old… Old Shui, I don't know what to say…"

"Then don't say anything!" Shui Yongquan pulled out the contract, cut his palm, and let blood drip. "Come on, brother."

…

A month later, Shui Yongquan gave Qi Luoye his final plot—the last uncultivated land in Qi Luoye's territory—now cleared.

Originally, this plot was to go to Ma Wu, but Qi Luoye thought carefully: today, all land was cleared, and many would come to watch.

Ma Wu's method of clearing was too unusual—not suitable for public viewing—so he gave this plot to He Yuxiu.

A one-li-square plot posed no challenge to He Yuxiu; by noon, the clearing succeeded, and a faint, radiant light descended from the sky.

He Yuxiu stepped out of the plot and stood beside Li Qi: "Old Seven, I've cleared land countless times, but I've never seen such beautiful sky-light before."

This sky-light was indeed beautiful—not like a lamp in the night sky, but like the first dawn glow, because the entire surrounding sky was bright.

Li Banfeng's face lit up with joy—now the urgent task was gathering ten thousand people.

"This is hard," Li Banfeng sighed. "Old Wu paid high prices to recruit, yet few wanted to settle. So far, we've only gathered two thousand, plus Juanzi and others—barely five thousand, just half."

He Yuxiu made a subtle joke: "I'm in good shape—why don't we get started tonight and have the rest out?"

Li Banfeng exclaimed in shock: "Five thousand?"

He Yuxiu laughed: "No rush, take it slow. You've got a good build too, and Ye Ci knows how to raise kids—we'll all have them for you together."

Li Banfeng gazed up at the bright sky and laughed out loud.

Shui Yongquan stood beside Qiu Luoye, both of them smiling.

Ma Wu was laughing, Lu Chunying was laughing, Chu Er was laughing—all those who looked up at the sky were laughing.

Juanzi led all three-headed people in gazing at the sky; Xiao Shan whispered, "Sis, our home is lit up."

Xiao Ye Ci nodded beside her: "Yes, so bright."

You Tao squeezed Ye Ci's hand: "Yes, why is it so bright?"

Qiu Luoye blinked her eyes: "Isn't it a little too bright?"

A blinding light surged forth, illuminating Qiu Luoye's domain as bright as daylight.

Shui Yongquan cried out in alarm: "No good! Heavenly Light! Hide quickly!"

(End of Chapter)