Ascending from the mortal realm to become an immortal begins with taking charge of a grotto-heaven.

After several days of continuous flight.

The black iron boat transformed into a low, dark shadow, cutting through the continuous sea of ​​clouds, gradually slowing down, and finally hovering steadily outside the Cloud Elm Immortal City.

On the bluestone path, Zhang Li looked up at the immortal city that stood at the junction of the plain and the mountains.

The dark city wall is dozens of feet high, and is made entirely of tempered black rock. Layers of golden runes are engraved on the wall, and the runes flow with a faint light, echoing the spiritual veins below, forming a protective array that can cover the entire city. Even a blow from a Foundation Establishment cultivator would hardly shake it in the slightest.

After a quick glance, Zhang Li headed into the city.

When Yunyu Immortal City was first established, although the city was large in scale and the layout was indeed appropriate, it revealed its immaturity and awkwardness everywhere.

Most of the shops along the street were still empty, waiting for businesses to move in, making the whole city seem deserted.

Seeing this, Zhang Li lost interest in continuing his leisurely stroll and headed west of the city following the guidance of the jade tablet.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a palace complex that occupied almost one-fifth of the western part of the city appeared before him.

The brand-new Qingxuan Sect emblem on the gate was as bright as new, marking the sect's outpost in Yunyu Immortal City. Two outer sect disciples stood guard at the entrance.

"This is the office of the Qingxuan Sect. Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from entering."

Two disciples on duty blocked Zhang Li's path, scrutinizing him carefully from head to toe.

Zhang Li stopped and took out the jade token that Elder Wu Feng had personally given him from his storage bag.

"Outer disciple Zhang Li, on the orders of Elder Wu Feng, has come to Yunyu Immortal City to report."

He then handed the jade pendant forward.

The disciple on duty on the left stepped forward, took the jade token, and carefully examined it. Only after confirming that the markings and words were genuine did his expression ease somewhat, and he stepped aside to make way for the passage.

"So you're a fellow disciple on assignment. Please come in and register."

Zhang Li nodded and followed the disciple inside.

The entire complex was newly built in recent years, and the timber beams and pillars still carried the lingering smell of wood. Many side halls and courtyards were not yet fully renovated, and stones and spirit wood were piled up on the open ground next to them.

"This is the place. Junior Brother Zhang, you can go in and report."

The disciple who was guiding him led him to the outside of a side hall, gave him some instructions, and then hurriedly returned to continue his duty.

Zhang Li clasped his hands in a fist salute to his departing figure before stepping into the hall.

The reporting process was extremely swift; in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he emerged from the side hall with a task assigned to him.

"Although I was pushed out to save face, I have to admit that having powerful backers makes things much easier."

Zhang Li weighed the jade token in his hand and slowly left the place.

He accepted a mission to establish a spiritual field, which would last for seven years and take place on the shore of Crescent Lake, a hundred miles away from Yunyu Immortal City.

Crescent Lake is situated on a mid-grade first-order branch. Spirit fish can be raised in the lake, and the fertile soil along the shore has been intentionally developed into spirit fields to cultivate a mid-grade spirit grain called Ink Blood Spirit Rice.

This kind of spirit rice has black grains, and when cooked, it will ooze a faint blood-red spiritual light. Long-term consumption can nourish the body and prolong the years of declining qi and blood. It is one of the spirit grains that inner disciples often eat.

During these seven years, in addition to opening up and guarding Crescent Lake, he was also responsible for collecting the annual taxes from a small monk family near Crescent Lake.

As for why that cultivator family didn't discover the existence of the spiritual vein beneath Crescent Lake, it's naturally because the family lacked the means to find and awaken the spiritual vein. Although spiritual veins are innate, they are divided into two types: visible and hidden.

The spiritual energy of the visible veins overflows, causing the vegetation to change and become abnormal. Any cultivator with a discerning eye can detect this. However, the main vein beneath Yunyu Immortal City, along with the branch vein of Crescent Lake, are all hidden spiritual veins.

Such spiritual veins are buried deep underground, their spiritual energy concealed and unreleased, showing no abnormalities. Ordinary cultivators, even those who have lived on such spiritual veins for generations, would never be able to detect the presence of a high-grade spiritual vein beneath their feet without a unique method for finding and activating the vein, or a compass technique.

It was precisely because of this that after the Qingxuan Sect discovered the secrets of this place, they built a city, established a market, and developed spiritual fields, firmly controlling this unknown spiritual land in the sect's hands.

Crescent Lake is only a hundred miles away from Yunyu Immortal City. At Zhang Li's current pace, it will only take him an hour to reach Crescent Lake.

A clear lake, about five or six miles in circumference, lay quietly nestled among the mountains. From above, it resembled a crescent moon, with a thin halo of spiritual energy floating faintly on its surface—the very energy emanating from a branch of a first-grade high-level spiritual vein.

It was already dusk, the setting sun was melting gold, and the orange-red afterglow poured onto the lake surface. The shimmering waves reflected the fragmented light of the sunset, and the water and sky merged into one, making the entire lake water warm and clear.

"The environment is quite nice."

Zhang Li nodded and controlled the black shadow boat to descend.

After saying that, he sighed again, saying that the only good thing about Crescent Lake was its environment.

The only outstanding features of Crescent Lake are its scenery and spiritual energy; everything else is troublesome.

The sect only demarcated the territory and finalized the types of crops to be planted and raised. The entire spiritual field and the fish farm in the lake all needed to be developed bit by bit by him and his people.

In the coming year, he will not only be on duty and guarding the area, but will also personally lead a group of farmers and laborers to reclaim wasteland, regulate fields, dredge waterways, and build fish farm facilities, so as to completely develop the entire Crescent Lake Spiritual Site.

The process of clearing and managing the land is tedious, time-consuming, and labor-intensive, far more arduous than simply stationing troops.

"Alright, let's take it one step at a time. Right now, the most important thing is to build a temporary place to stay before the sun completely sets."

Zhang Li shook his head, dispelling the distracting thoughts in his mind, and controlled the spirit boat beneath his feet to land on the small island in the middle of the lake.

The island is situated at the heart of the entire branch, where spiritual energy is most abundant. In addition, it is not a large place and is not within the scope of the sect's plan to develop spiritual fields, making it the perfect place for Zhang Li to live in the future.

Thinking of this, Zhang Li took out the Heavenly Sun Sword and quickly cleared all the trees on the island.

Then, using the cleared timber, they built a simple wooden hut as a temporary place to stay.

About two or three days later, a cultivator will come with farmers, laborers, stone and spirit wood, protective array plates, and spirit fish fry.

Only then will the entire Crescent Lake truly begin development and reclamation, with the clearing and cultivation of spiritual fields and the establishment of standardized fishing grounds, thus fully revitalizing this resource site and making it a stable source of spiritual products for the Qingxuan Sect.

Zhang Li arrived here ahead of time to take advantage of the few days off to clear out any potential hazards around Crescent Lake.

Firstly, to clear away the barren and undeveloped terrain around the lake and level the land; secondly, to patrol the mountains, forests, and waterfronts, driving away and hunting down low-level demonic beasts attracted by spiritual energy, paving the way for large-scale reclamation and construction, and ensuring that the sect's forces can start work immediately upon arrival.

As dusk settled and the setting sun disappeared completely behind the distant mountains, the evening breeze by the lake grew cool. Zhang Li turned and returned to the wooden house to begin his cultivation.