Chapter 106: The Village-Building Quest

After his initial excitement, Ye Mo calmed himself and began studying the design blueprint for the Immortal City through the night. He would soon need to make use of this blueprint, so he had to examine it thoroughly.

The "Village-level Immortal City Design Blueprint" mainly contained two aspects: city defenses and functional buildings.

The city defenses included city walls and defense towers. For an Immortal Village, the walls were generally constructed using first- to third-grade spiritual wood. Only when the village upgraded to a town or city would they begin using sturdier fourth-grade or higher stone materials.

The wall design for the Immortal Village was naturally meticulous and precise; gates and spiritual wood walls were far superior to the haphazard spiritual wood fences, leaving no blind spots or vulnerabilities.

There were also various types of defense towers, categorized by their offensive power: first-grade arrow towers, second-grade catapult towers, and third-grade cannon towers.

The first-grade arrow tower was the simplest, requiring several cultivators to man it with bows and arrows. Its firing speed was fast, and its range could reach over forty or fifty zhang—far greater than the spell range of Qi Refining cultivators.

The second-grade catapult tower was actually an invention from the secular kingdoms of the Nine Provinces continent. Installed within the city, it could launch massive stone projectiles weighing several thousand jin outwards, delivering powerful blows. Even low-level beasts with thick hides would be battered half to death if struck by one.

However, catapults were extremely slow and inaccurate; their projectiles rarely hit swift beasts. Few Immortal Villages bothered to build such towers since their effectiveness was limited.

The third-grade cannon tower was the most formidable defensive weapon available to village-level Immortal Cities, with a range of several hundred zhang. The copper barrel was loaded with gunpowder and fitted with iron pellets; once the fuse was lit, it could even kill a low-level beast in a single blast.

Of course, copper cannons had obvious shortcomings: their reload speed was slow. Such towers could not deal with agile cultivators or small, quick beasts—they were only suitable for large targets.

The copper cannon itself was easy to make; a common blacksmith could forge a large barrel with copper.

However, gunpowder was difficult to produce. It was a powder made from the residue leftover when alchemists refined certain spiritual pills. Though it was a byproduct, it was still extremely expensive.

Strictly speaking, these copper cannons were already considered semi-spiritual artifacts.

The blueprints for the first-grade arrow tower and second-grade catapult tower were detailed in the design drawings and were free. But the gunpowder recipe had to be purchased from the Azure Cloud Immortal Institute, or the gunpowder itself acquired directly. The recipe cost one thousand spirit stones, while each portion of gunpowder was ten spirit stones.

Ye Mo had witnessed the fierce power of a copper cannon before; the pirate ship led by Feng Xionglong had a copper cannon mounted at its bow.

When Ye Mo encountered the pirate ship at sea, it was this cannon that forced his party of martial artists, sailing on a raft, to surrender without resistance.

“By the way, where did Feng Xionglong get his gunpowder?” Ye Mo suddenly recalled something and asked Chang Fei, who was beside him.

“City Lord, the gunpowder on the pirate ship was given to Feng Xionglong by Zhou Ruhai, City Lord of Donglai Immortal Village, so his ship could safely transport slaves to Donglai Immortal Village and defend against sea beasts.

After each batch of slaves was delivered, Lord Zhou would provide enough gunpowder for one iron pellet shot; otherwise, Feng Xionglong would have no way to obtain it. Since not every sea journey encountered beasts, Master Feng kept a few portions in reserve.

This gunpowder is not traded in the marketplace—ordinary people have no use for it. Only the City Lord’s residence produces it, and Donglai Immortal Village needs it for their city defenses.”

Chang Fei hurriedly explained.

“So that’s how it is,” Ye Mo nodded, finally understanding. He asked no further and continued to study the Immortal Village design blueprint.

The other part of the blueprint concerned the village’s functional buildings.

These included the City Lord’s mansion, trade market, alchemy pavilion, artifact forging pavilion, beast taming pavilion, plantations, and so forth. The blueprint only described the layout for each building.

But as for the methods to refine the various spiritual artifacts and pills, those were missing and had to be purchased from the Azure Cloud Immortal Institute.

The blueprint even included a price list, allowing City Lords of the Immortal Alliance to buy various alchemy and artifact forging recipes from the Institute.

“Blueprint for crafting first-grade Five-Element Spiritual Swords, price: one thousand spirit stones per set.”

“Blueprint for crafting first-grade Five-Element Spiritual Armor, price: one thousand spirit stones per set.”

All recipes for first-grade spiritual items started at a minimum of one thousand spirit stones, some costing several thousand. Higher-grade ones were even more expensive.

Ye Mo glanced over the prices and couldn’t help but click his tongue.

“Azure Cloud Immortal Institute is truly ruthless—everything must be purchased with spirit stones, and the prices are sky-high! Once we build the village, how are we supposed to live?” Wang Hu came over, saw the price list, and his face was filled with indignation.

“You think the main Immortal City of Azure Cloud supports new City Lords for no reason? The resources on the island surrounding Azure Cloud Immortal City have long been depleted. They foster other Immortal Cities to carve out new territories, trading vast resources for various blueprints and recipes. Now I understand why the main Immortal City is so eager to cultivate City Lord cultivators and help them build cities!”

Lin Zhi sneered.

The thirty-six major Immortal Cities possessed advanced technology of all kinds, but their resources had to be drawn from the entire Eastern Sea. New Immortal Villages lacked technology, so exchanging resources for technical blueprints was undoubtedly the fastest method.

...

Several days later.

Kuang Zhen accompanied a burly man clad in black armor into the Azure Cloud Immortal Institute.

Inside the hall of bluish stone, all City Lord candidates were assembled.

The new City Lords were all excited; the next step was surely the assignment of village-building tasks. None knew where they would be sent.

“This is Envoy Wang, sent by the Immortal City Alliance. He will now announce your tasks!”

Kuang Zhen gave a brief introduction.

Ye Mo’s gaze fell upon the burly man. His expression was stern, his presence as deep as the sea.

The armored man swept his cold eyes over the City Lord cultivators, making many of them shiver with unease.

“By order of the Immortal Alliance Steward Hall, the new City Lords of Azure Cloud Immortal Institute this year are commanded to proceed to the ‘Ao Lai Archipelago of the Ao Lai Sea’ and select an uninhabited wild island to establish a village-level Immortal City. All required personnel and materials must be brought by yourselves.

From the date of this order, within half a year, you must arrive at the Ao Lai Sea and found your Immortal Village. Those who fail to comply will have their Alliance membership revoked! During village construction, you must strictly follow all Alliance regulations.”

The armored man produced a purple silk document and announced the order coldly.

“Kuang Elder, these new City Lords are under your supervision for city building! I have other urgent duties and must visit other main Immortal Cities, so I won’t delay further. Farewell!”

With that, he handed the task document to Kuang Zhen, bowed with clasped fists, and hurriedly departed.

“Farewell, Envoy Wang!”

Ye Mo and the other ten City Lord candidates all revealed expressions of excitement. Establishing their own Immortal Village was each of their dreams, and now it could finally be realized.

“Alright, don’t celebrate too soon!”

After seeing the armored man off, Kuang Zhen noticed the elation among the new City Lords and snorted.

“Wait until I explain the specifics of the Ao Lai Sea, then you can celebrate!”

Kuang Zhen seated himself on the highest meditation mat, took out a jade slip, and activated it with a spell. Instantly, a vast map of the Eastern Sea archipelago appeared.

On this map, innumerable points of light marked each Immortal City.

The brighter the glow, the higher the city’s rank.

The brightest thirty-six points were the thirty-six main Immortal Cities of the Eastern Sea archipelago, each presided over by a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Ye Mo’s eyes sparkled—such a detailed sea chart, if only he could possess a copy.

“This shows the distribution of human Immortal Cities in the Eastern Sea archipelago... I wonder if there are any elsewhere beyond the Eastern Sea?” Ye Mo’s thoughts wandered.

Not just Ye Mo; the other City Lords also looked at the map with longing. Even those from great families had never truly seen such a comprehensive sea chart before.

“No need to envy it!” Kuang Zhen chuckled. “You’ll each receive a copy in due course. As Immortal Alliance City Lords, you are entitled to it. Now, let’s discuss the Ao Lai Sea…”

He pointed to the map’s edge.

Everyone focused, and sure enough, there was the name “Ao Lai Sea.”

“The Ao Lai Sea is a newly developed area by the Immortal Alliance, located at the fringe of the Alliance’s territory. Even the fastest sea vessels take two months to reach it.

Given this distance, your families won’t be able to support you much. This is a new domain. The Alliance has sent cultivators to investigate, and the Ao Lai Archipelago contains no high-level beasts. However, outbreaks of low-level beast tides occur frequently. Establishing a foothold here will not be easy.”

Kuang Zhen explained the region in detail.

“Once your Immortal Village is built, if you need it, Azure Cloud Immortal Institute can open a small teleportation array for you, connecting your village directly to Azure Cloud Main Immortal City. Of course, construction isn’t free—the cost is ten thousand spirit stones. You may pay on credit, as long as it’s settled within three years… If not, the Alliance will auction off all your village’s assets to settle the debt.”

“Is building a teleportation array really that expensive?”

The excitement on the ten new City Lords’ faces vanished instantly, replaced by alarm.

Ye Mo could only give a bitter smile.

Ten thousand spirit stones, to be repaid in three years.

Before the village had even earned a single spirit stone, they were already saddled with a huge debt.

Yet, in the Ao Lai Archipelago, building a teleportation array was essential. Otherwise, without contact with the main Immortal City, a round trip by sea would take many months.

“Since there’s never been an Immortal Village in the Ao Lai Archipelago, could it be dangerous?” Lou Jiejun asked anxiously. He didn’t want to risk his life for nothing.

“No need to worry too much! If a massive tide of high-level beasts occurs, exceeding the capacity of Qi Refining cultivators, you can request emergency aid from Azure Cloud Immortal City.

Of course, dispatching high-level cultivators for support requires payment of a large number of spirit stones afterwards. Don’t ask for help over trivial matters.

Furthermore, all thirty-six main Immortal Cities’ Institutes will send new City Lords to establish villages in this Ao Lai Archipelago—three hundred sixty new City Lords, plus tens of thousands of assistant cultivators. Since you’re all Alliance members, you can consider mutual aid!”

Kuang Zhen waved dismissively.

“The Alliance sends you to the Ao Lai Sea to build Immortal Villages for the resources. With resources to attract, more cultivators will come. Recruit talents, and defending your village won’t be too difficult. Rest assured, the Alliance is not sending you to die.

Azure Cloud Immortal Institute will dispatch over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators to escort you to the Ao Lai Archipelago. If you need to build a teleportation array, they’ll help set it up in your village, facilitating travel to Azure Cloud Immortal City.

All thirty-six main Immortal Cities are sending new City Lords. Competition will be fierce. As for how to select your site, build your village, and develop quickly, that depends on your own abilities. You’ve studied at Azure Cloud Immortal Institute for a whole year—I hope it wasn’t wasted! Set out soon; the sooner you go, the sooner you’ll gain an advantage!”

Kuang Zhen smiled.