Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 342 Going Home
Changtai West Township was originally just a small settlement built by Li Xiangming on the west side of Changtai Township.

However, after ten years of expansion and preferential policies for housing, this place has become a veritable town, far exceeding the original Changtai Township in size, and has become the largest secular settlement under the Li family.

From above, it resembles a meticulously painted scroll, with streets arranged like the lines of a chessboard, straight and orderly.

The city walls are sturdy and square, encircling the city, and each city gate is designed to be magnificent.

The main roads in the city are wide enough to accommodate several carriages side by side without feeling crowded.

The road is lined with shady trees, providing cool shade for pedestrians.

"Your family put a lot of thought into this."

Ding Xia looked around curiously. It seemed as if they had arrived in a commercial district, with shops lining the streets, colorful flags fluttering, and various signs swaying gently in the breeze, beckoning passing customers.

There were also some vendors who set up stalls under the trees, displaying a dazzling array of goods in front of them, including oil lamps and candles, pots and pans, salt, rice and tea, furs and spices, and so on, which were so abundant that they were dazzling to behold.

"These were all created by our hall master!"

Li Xiangqi, who was walking in front, turned around, his face filled with pride.

"Oh?"

Ding Xia stared at Li Xiangming's face, her curiosity growing.

Cultivators can ride the clouds and mist, and overturn rivers and seas; all of this is achieved through arduous cultivation.

Those who are so immersed in the art of array formations often have mediocre cultivation levels.

Li Xiangming was able to kill Duan Heng, who was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, so even if he wasn't at the Foundation Establishment stage, he must have been an extremely powerful cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

Such remarkable cultivation at such a young age, and also knowledgeable in business.

I really don't know how this person's brain works.

How many people live in Xixiang City right now?

As Li Xiangming walked down the street, looking at the bustling scene before him, he felt a mix of emotions.

Li Xiangqi quickly replied, "According to the plan, Xixiang City is divided into four districts: East, South, West, and North. The population of each district varies. For example, the East District, which was built earliest, now has more than 10,000 households, while the North District, which was completed last, has only more than 3,000 households. The four districts combined have about 200,000 people. However, Xixiang City also has an outer district and scattered villages nearby. If all of them are included, the population is more than 400,000!"

"Are there that many people?"

Li Xiangming couldn't help but show a surprised expression.

He remembered that when the Shangjifang was first established, the clan records showed that the population of Changtai Township was only 170,000.

Although he later re-conducted the census and corrected the number to 210,000.

But he not only established Xixiang City, but also built Xulong Township in the north.

The population of these places all migrated from Changtai Township.

Li Xiangqi explained, “The conflict in Daishan has become increasingly intense. Last year, Shengyimen and the family reached an agreement to relocate 200,000 people from Daishan to Dangguishan. Our Shangjifang is in charge of this matter.”

"After careful consideration, Uncle Qianbai decided to follow your policy and focus on developing Changtai West Township. As a result, the 50,000 refugees from Su'an Township were gradually relocated to Xixiang City, while the people of Daishan were settled in Xulong and Su'an Townships."

"I see."

Li Xiangming nodded. There are nearly 300,000 refugees in Su'an Township. In recent years, they have opened up a large amount of farmland near Xixiang City, which has greatly increased the population potential of Xixiang Township in Changtai.

Now that they've been settled in, it's a fitting end to the story.

Li Xiangming was about to say something when suddenly he raised his head slightly.

A middle-aged monk with a short beard slowly descended from the sky.

"Haha! Xiangming, you're finally back!"

The newcomer laughed heartily; he was none other than Li Qianyou, the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall.

Li Xiangming quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Xiangming greets Hall Master!"

"Why are you being polite to me?"

Li Qianyou laughed and scolded, then said, "Hurry up and come home with me, the head of the family has been waiting for you for a long time."

Li Xiangming was speechless. He hadn't expected that Li Qianxiong would send Li Qianyou to urge him to see him as soon as possible.

"Thank you for your help, Uncle Qianyou. By the way, have Third Uncle and the others arrived home yet?" Li Xiangming asked.

While at the Yin family's residence in Furongping, Li Chenggeng was responsible for setting up a trap for Song Kui, buying time for Li Xiangming's surprise attack on Xixingzhai.

Afterwards, he and Cao Yanjun went ahead and took the flying shuttle home.

Li Qianyou knew that Li Xiangming wanted to ask about Cao Yanjun, so he immediately replied with a smile, "Don't worry, Yanjun is safe. It's just you and Jihu who are missing."

Li Xiangming felt slightly relieved, although he knew that with Li Chenggeng around, the possibility of an accident was very small. But he had experienced too many accidents in Hao County these past few days, to the point that even as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he only dared to return home with the protection of Li Chengkang.

As for Li Jihu, he walked south under the protection of Li Qianshi.

It should take them and Zhang Min and the other disciples of Green Cloud Cave several days to reach Dangui Mountain.

"Xiang Qi, I'm leaving now. I'll leave this place to you."

Now that Li Qianyou had arrived, Li Xiangming naturally could not linger in Xixiang City any longer, so he gave an instruction to Li Xiangqi.

"Please rest assured, Deputy Hall Master, the Accounting Office will definitely manage Xixiang City in an orderly manner."

In front of the two hall masters, Li Xiangqi's expression was unusually serious, and his voice was loud and clear.

Li Xiangming smiled slightly and then followed Li Qianyou back to Tailai Peak.

"This is Miss Ding, an outstanding array master."

On the way, Li Xiangming introduced Ding Xia, who was beside him, to Li Qianyou.

Upon hearing the term "array master," Li Qianyou's eyes immediately lit up. For Li Xiangming to bestow the word "outstanding" upon her, this woman's abilities must be extraordinary.

The Li family is neither skilled in alchemy nor in crafting artifacts, nor is it particularly adept at talisman formations. However, they are generally competent in the other three arts, but very few people specialize in formations.

If the Li family could bring in an outstanding array master, would it significantly improve the Li family's array skills?

Thinking of this, Li Qianyou's gaze toward Ding Xia became increasingly ardent.

Startled, Ding Xia quickly tugged at Li Xiangming's sleeve.

Li Xiangming was initially confused, but when he saw Li Qianyou showing concern for Ding Xia, he realized that this was exactly the attitude of his father when he and Cao Yanjun became Daoist partners.
It turns out the Li family is of the same ilk, and Li Qianyou is exactly the same.

"Uncle Qianyou!"

Li Xiangming coughed several times before Li Qianyou finally calmed down a bit.

However, not long after, he actually started to care about Ding Xia's marriage.

Li Xiangming quickly interrupted, giving Ding Xia an awkward smile: "Our Li family has always been hospitable to our guests."

Ding Xia blushed and remained silent.

And so, the three of them arrived at Tailai Peak.

At the foot of Tailai Peak, Cao Yanjun and Li Xiangzhen had been waiting for a long time.

Despite having been apart for only a little over ten days, Li Xiangming was still overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing Cao Yanjun, and the two embraced tightly.

After a long while, the two finally parted ways, but their eyes remained fixed on each other.

At this moment, it was Li Qianyou's turn to cough.

Li Xiangming had no choice but to shift his gaze to Li Xiangzhen, who was standing to the side.

Suddenly, a look of surprise appeared on his face: "Xiangzhen, you've reached the fifth level of Qi Refining?"

Li Xiangzhen scratched her head: "Thanks to the elixir left by my brother."

Li Xiangming was somewhat gratified. When he left Puxian, Li Xiangzhen was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining. He didn't expect to see him break through when he returned.

Although reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining at the age of twenty is not something to be proud of for geniuses like Li Xiangren and Li Xiangyu.

However, it should be noted that Li Xiangzhen's talent only includes five spiritual roots.

A seed with five spiritual roots wouldn't even qualify for entry into a sect with a bit of reputation.

Only a family-based power, which prioritizes bloodline inheritance, would offer them the opportunity to enter the Dao.

Li Xiangming immediately took out four bottles of pills from his storage bag and stuffed them into Li Xiangzhen's hands: "If you want to go far on the path of cultivation, the fifth level of Qi Refining is not enough. You must not slack off in your daily cultivation. Take these pills and ask me for more if you need more. But remember, taking elixirs indiscriminately is not a good thing. Think about it yourself."

"Yes!"

Lee Sang-jeong replied earnestly.

Ding Xia, watching this scene from afar, suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

Once upon a time, she also had a happy family.

But in the end, she chose to wander alone.

She wondered if her younger brother would still remember her.

　Waaah, another single update today.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)