Clan Cultivation: Starting from Foundation Establishment on Mount Luoxia

Xue Hou suddenly spoke, her voice still clear and cold:

"What are those... glowing things (referring to magical artifacts) you have? Why do they enhance your combat power?"

That was a direct question. All five representatives looked over, clearly very curious.

Li Xiaoyao and Xiao Chuhuan exchanged a glance.

Xiao Chuhuan considered carefully and said:

"This is a 'magic weapon,' crafted by human cultivators using the art of weapon forging, gathering spiritual materials from heaven and earth, and adding array runes. It can amplify spiritual power and unleash supernatural abilities."

"Just like... just like your sharp fangs, claws, lightning, and flames, they are an extension of our battle."

This analogy is very apt.

Thunder Beast King pondered, "Like my Thunder Horn, or Stone Ancestor's Rock Armor?"

"similar."

Li Xiaoyao nodded, "However, there are many kinds of magical treasures, each with its own use. Attack, defense, assistance, trapping enemies... and so on."

Shi Zu said sullenly, "Interesting. May I take a look another day?"

"Of course."

Xiao Chuhuan smiled and said, "Since we'll be neighbors in the future, we should naturally have more exchanges."

The phoenix spreads its wings: "In that case, the alliance is formally established."

"Three days later, I will take you to that territory of eight hundred miles and help you choose a place to build your city."

The old tree spirit concluded, "I hope you will keep your promise and coexist and prosper with the Spirit Realm."

The representatives from the five parties departed one after another.

Before leaving, the Thunder Beast King flew over to Li Xiaoyao and grinned, saying:

"Kid, we'll fight again when you're healed! Next time I won't hold back!"

Li Xiaoyao smiled wryly and agreed.

After the representatives from all five parties left, the Xiao and Li families finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's done!"

Xiao Chuhuan's voice trembled with excitement, "Eight hundred li of territory! Brother Xiaoyao, we've really succeeded!"

Li Xiaoyao also smiled and looked towards the southeast.

That place will be a new starting point for the Xiao and Li families in this direction.

He also vaguely sensed that after this battle, the fusion of [Xuanhuang Pass] and [Changsheng Palace] seemed to have taken another step forward.

The power of the two immortal foundations may have even more potential waiting to be explored.

"Let's go."

He looked away. "Let's go back to camp, heal our wounds, and prepare to build the city."

The airship took off and flew towards the Flaming Mountains.

As the sun sets, it dyes the mountains and rivers of Lingpo Realm golden red.

A new home is now in sight.

Three days later, in the southeast corner of the Spirit Soul Realm.

Eight hundred li of territory, a coastal plain.

The Xiao family's flying boat hovered a hundred feet in the air. Xiao Chuhuan and Li Xiaoyao stood side by side in front of the porthole, looking down at the fertile land below.

The plains stretch as far as the eye can see, covered in lush green grass, with several rivers meandering like silver ribbons through them, eventually flowing into the azure sea to the southeast.

Sparse woodlands can be seen in the distance, and further away are rolling hills.

Although the concentration of spiritual energy is not as high as that of Tianqi Peak, it is still abundant enough to support the operation of a cultivator city.

"A good place."

Xiao Chuhuan's eyes gleamed.

"Beneath the mountains and by the sea, with navigable rivers, plains suitable for farming, and hills suitable for planting. Brother Xiaoyao, where do you think would be the best place to build a city?"

After observing for a moment, Li Xiaoyao pointed to a high ground at the confluence of the rivers: "How about that place? It's slightly higher, which can protect us from floods; it's convenient to get water from the river; it's backed by hills, which provide some defense; and it faces the plains, offering a wide view. Moreover, the underground spiritual veins converge here, making it much easier to set up a spirit-gathering array."

Xiao Chuhuan looked closely, then clapped his hands and laughed, "Brother Xiaoyao has a discerning eye! This is the place!"

He turned to his two uncles from the Xiao family behind him: "Uncle Mingshan, you lead people to explore the earth's veins and plan the city's layout."

"Uncle Minghai, you take people to clear out the surrounding monsters—remember, only drive them away, don't kill them, especially those that have gained sentience."

The two Foundation Establishment elders accepted the order and left.

Xiao Chuhuan then looked at Li Xiaoyao: "Brother Xiaoyao, the Xiao family was the main force in building this city, but the Li family's contribution is indispensable."

"I'd like to designate a self-governing area within the city and place it under the management of the Li family. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaoyao smiled and shook his head: "I appreciate Brother Chu Heng's kindness. However, my Li family's roots are in Bing-749, not here. Let's forget about the autonomous region."

Xiao Chuhuan was taken aback: "Then what does Brother Xiaoyao mean...?"

"Shops".

Li Xiaoyao said, "The Li family will take 30% of the shops in the city."

"In the future, the Li family will send people to run a business dealing in elixirs, magical artifacts, talismans, and the like."

"In addition, if an alchemy pavilion or weapon-making workshop is set up in the city, the Li family will also want a 30% share."

After a moment's thought, Xiao Chuhuan understood Li Xiaoyao's plan—he didn't want land control, only commercial profits.

"This avoids potential future management disputes while still providing tangible resource benefits. Moreover, the Li family excels in alchemy and artifact crafting, which complements the Xiao family perfectly."

"good!"

Xiao Chuhuan readily agreed, "The Li family owns 30% of the shops in the city. They also own 30% of the alchemy pavilion and weapon-refining workshop."

"Furthermore, members of the Li family enjoy the same rights as the Xiao family in the city."

"make a deal."

Li Xiaoyao laughed.

The decision to build the city was thus finalized.

For the next two weeks, the cultivators from the Xiao and Li families were extremely busy.

Xiao Mingshan led his men to explore the earth's veins and planned out the city's outline—five li from east to west, six li from north to south, with a city wall nine zhang high and four gates.

The city is divided into a cultivator area, a mortal area, a commercial area, and a workshop area. The core area has been reserved for the city lord's mansion and important buildings.

Xiao Minghai led his men to clear out the monsters within his territory.

With prior notice from the phoenix, most of the intelligent beasts voluntarily moved away, while a few ignorant wild beasts were driven to the outskirts of the territory.

The entire process was peaceful and smooth, without any conflict.

On the Li family's side, Li Tongya led several array masters to assist in setting up the foundation of the city's protective array.

Scarface and Iron Bow led their men to patrol the surrounding area, while Li Chijing followed the Xiao family cultivators to learn about city-building techniques.

Meanwhile, Li Xiaoyao and Xiao Chuhuan began planning the most important step – the migration of the population.

"Brother Chuheng, building a city is easy, but it needs ordinary people to cultivate, work, and reproduce. The hundred or so ordinary people that the Xiao family brought this time are only enough for the initial construction."

Looking at the bustling construction site, Li Xiaoyao asked, "Where will the subsequent population come from?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chuhuan smiled mysteriously and lowered his voice: "Brother Xiaoyao, this matter... is actually not difficult."

He looked around, set up a soundproof barrier, and then continued, "The Immortal Sect does indeed prohibit large-scale population transfers on the surface, and even more strictly forbids human trafficking."

"But that only applies to mortals with household registration tokens under the rule of the Immortal Sect."

"The Immortal Sect has always turned a blind eye to those unregistered migrants, as well as... humanoid natives from other realms."

Li Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow: "Natives from other realms?"

"Exactly."

Xiao Chuhuan nodded, "The vast void contains countless intelligent beings similar to humans."

"Some border areas have harsh environments, making it difficult for indigenous people to survive; some border areas are frequently plagued by war, resulting in a large number of displaced people."

"The various families under the Immortal Sect need to develop and require population, and these... are the source."

He paused, then lowered his voice further: "This matter has developed into a gray industry. Certain independent cultivator alliances act as fronts, trading in the void black market."

"As long as the bottom line of the Immortal Sect is not crossed—not kidnapping registered mortals, and not causing large-scale turmoil—the Immortal Sect usually will not interfere."

Li Xiaoyao was deeply shaken.

Since his transmigration, all he has seen is the orderly and well-governed state of the immortal sects. He never imagined that beneath this glamorous facade, there would be such a gray area.

"The 30,000 ordinary people that the Xiao family relocated this time were purchased from the black market."

Xiao Chuhuan said frankly, "Among them, 20,000 are humanoid natives from other realms, and 10,000 are unregistered refugees from various places."

"The price... isn't cheap, but its advantage lies in its 'clean' origin, which won't cause any trouble."

Li Xiaoyao was silent for a moment, then asked, "Where is this black market?"

Xiao Chuhuan took out a black jade slip from his bosom and handed it to Li Xiaoyao: "Brother Xiaoyao, if you are interested, you can go and take a look here."

"But be careful—the black market is a mixed bag; while transactions are free, you are responsible for your own safety."

Li Xiaoyao took the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense.

Inside was a virtual star map with a hidden coordinate marked on it.

There is also a brief description: Northwest of Chuixing Post Station, about 10,000 li from the western edge of Yunzhou, there is a small black market.

Its true form is the cave of a fallen cultivator from the Purple Mansion, hidden in the boundless void, like a secret realm.

"This black market is jointly maintained by several top families in Yunzhou, and its order is relatively good. However, the items traded inside..."

Xiao Chuhuan said meaningfully, "Most of them can't be brought to light."

"Population is only one aspect; there are also forbidden cultivation techniques, stolen magical artifacts, and even... certain 'things' that are forbidden from being researched by the immortal sects."

Li Xiaoyao put away the jade slip, his expression complex: "Thank you for informing me, Brother Chuheng."

"Brother Xiaoyao, you're too kind."

Xiao Chuhuan said solemnly, "Our two families are now allies, so this information should naturally be shared."

"However... this matter is ultimately not something that can be discussed openly, so I hope Brother Xiaoyao will keep it a secret."

"nature."

The two removed the barrier and returned to their city-building duties.

But a seed had already been planted in Li Xiaoyao's heart.

Black market... Purple Mansion Grotto Heaven... Top-tier family protection...

This world is far more complex than he imagined.