Zongyang wasn’t worried about them waking up. He had already crippled their limbs, rendering their Martial Arts Cultivation useless. Besides, their hands, feet, and mouths were all bound, making it impossible for them to break free.

’Looks like I need to have Han Mo and Jing Xuan develop more uses for the special medicinal plants and whatnot from the Wilderness World.’

Those two had a Talent for Medicine and were familiar with Medicinal Materials. They were responsible for many of the Medicinal Materials gathered from the Wilderness World and even managed medicinal fields.

At this thought, Zongyang immediately picked up a charcoal pencil and wrote a note on the wooden board hanging on the wall outside about developing more uses for various items.

He had put this board up a while ago, mainly to note down tasks that needed to be handled by Ma San and the others.

When Ma San or the others completed a task, they would put a checkmark next to it, report it, and then erase it once the report was done.

This way, nothing would be forgotten.

With the matter settled, Zongyang didn’t leave. Instead, he continued his Cultivation of the Breath-holding Technique.

As it turned out, in less than an hour, the six Martial Artists who had been thrown outside and watched by Ma San and his men woke up one after another.

At the same moment they awoke, they disappeared one by one.

Ma San noticed this and quickly glanced at the clock hanging by the door.

He immediately put down the rice seedlings in his hand, washed his hands, and hurried to the door of the market stall to report to Zongyang.

"I know."

His Cultivation interrupted, Zongyang acknowledged him. He now knew the time and left shortly after.

In the outside world, inside the Storehouse.

Zongyang looked at the six men on the floor, who were struggling frantically but to no avail. Not wanting to waste his breath on pointless chatter, he knocked them unconscious one by one.

They were still breathing only because his purchase order for the Soul Crystal Stones hadn’t been filled yet.

To prevent them from untying each other’s ropes, Zongyang fetched six two-meter-tall iron rods. He threaded the rods through their bound hands behind their backs, drove the rods straight into the ground, and fixed each of them to a separate spot.

After checking that everything was secure, Zongyang went out to the courtyard and resumed practicing his Breath-holding Technique.

The Breath-holding Technique was difficult to get started with. He could only practice diligently to reach the Beginner stage sooner; only then would the technique’s advantages begin to work automatically and continuously.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, Zhao the Seventh began to carry out the plan. He had six men who knew how to ride horses change into the captured men’s clothes. They then rode through the streets, making sure "they" were seen, before heading straight for the East City Gate and leaving the city without a backward glance. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The common folk, who had been woken up early to go farm, naturally saw this but paid it no mind, simply hurrying to the area outside the West City.

Afterward, Zongyang had the six horses sent into the Wilderness World.

These horses couldn’t be kept in the city either; that would be leaving behind evidence. As for killing them for meat, that would be too much of a waste!

Instead, they became Zongyang’s means of transportation. He could learn to ride occasionally in the future, giving him a different way to travel, even though using his Body Technique more often would increase its proficiency.

They could also be bred in Cheng Family Village later on. They would surely be useful someday.

As large numbers of people arrived at the fields, the rest of the rice seedlings were quickly planted.

In a shed by the fields.

Zongyang, Li Lu, Zhao the Seventh, Li Xian, Chen Eryun, and Xiao Bing were gathered here. A few underlings stood guard outside.

The last three were the leaders of the other Gangs. They were trusted former government officials who had once worked under Zhao the Seventh and had escaped disaster thanks to Li Lu’s warning.

Now, they had each established their own Gangs and were managing different districts for Li Lu.

At this moment, Li Lu and the other four men were listening to Zongyang’s arrangements:

"...So, the grain shop, the winery, the general store, and the pharmacy—all of them must be in the West City. Furthermore, each will have its own corresponding warehouse. It might be too early to talk about this, but given the current situation, I’m willing to take a gamble. Li Xian, you’re in charge of the West City, right?"

The young man whose name was called immediately nodded. "Yes, Lord Cheng! Just give the order!"

Li Xian was Li Lu’s own nephew. Zongyang had first met him when Li Lu delivered a corpse to his home for the first time.

They had met several times since and were fairly familiar with each other.

Li Lu had now assigned him to the West City, where he had established the Gathering Heroes Gang to manage the district.

"Find suitable storefronts for the businesses I mentioned on West City Street and reserve them for me. The bigger the area, the better."

"Yes, my lord!" Li Xian stood and clasped his hands in a salute.

"Everything that needed to be said about the farmland has been said. You all just see to it. Finally, there’s this."

After speaking, Zongyang picked up a prepared wooden box from the side and placed it on the table.

He opened it to reveal two small porcelain vials and four packets of medicinal powder.

"These two porcelain vials contain Body Tempering Powder, which aids in Martial Arts Cultivation for the Lower Three Grades. The four packets of medicinal powder are for you four, Li Xian—one for each of you. They will help you reach Entry Grade. Ask your uncle about them later. He’ll tell you how to use them."

Zongyang explained briefly.

He had a stock of these materials from his second uncle. They were no longer effective for him now. Only Qi Essence Pills could help his Cultivation.

So, he brought them out to win their loyalty and as a reward.

Here, not only was Li Lu a Martial Artist, but Zhao the Seventh and the other three had also begun their own Cultivation with permission from Zongyang and Li Lu.

Their Martial Arts Techniques came from the County Magistrate’s Office storehouse.

Back when Luo Dingran ransacked all those families, he naturally amassed a great deal of money, medicinal formulas, Medicinal Materials, and Martial Arts Techniques.

After the Government Office officials were all killed, most of the resources were taken away by the Foreign Race Influence. What little they didn’t care for was taken over by Li Lu.

Zongyang took a portion of these—Martial Arts Techniques, Martial Arts, medicinal formulas, and so on—to build up the Cheng Family’s Martial Arts foundation.

Li Lu kept only a small portion for himself.

Li Lu also guided Zhao the Seventh and the others in their Martial Arts Training.

"How effective is this?" Li Lu asked, picking up a vial of Body Tempering Powder.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t envious when he learned Zongyang had already become a Seventh Grade Martial Artist. But he was well aware of his own situation.

Without Zongyang’s help, forget his current Eighth Grade strength—he probably still wouldn’t have even reached Entry Grade due to his insufficient qi and blood!

Now that he heard there was more medicine, he was naturally thrilled!

When there were medicines that could rapidly increase one’s strength, who would want to improve slowly, bit by bit?

If he had just followed the conventional path, even with good luck, his Cultivation would still be at the Ninth Grade! He might not even be alive today.

Zongyang guessed his thoughts and smiled. "I’m giving it to you, so just use it without worry. There are only benefits, no drawbacks. But the Medicinal Materials in the formula are hard to find, so there isn’t much."

He then added a little white lie, "I even took this from my own personal share. I only get five vials a month."

Li Lu smiled at his words. He didn’t care if it was true or not. The tangible benefit in his hand was what was real. He said gratefully:

"Brother! Thank you. Don’t worry, I’ll personally oversee the tasks you’ve given me. I won’t let our plans be delayed!"

Zongyang nodded. "I’m going to get more rice seedlings next, so I’ll be gone for a few days. Handle any unexpected matters yourselves."

"Alright!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Zongyang then left the shed and headed into the city.

Only after Zongyang had left did Li Xian let out a breath of relief. He looked at the medicinal powder on the table and asked excitedly, "Uncle, how do we use this powder?"

Zhao the Seventh and the others also looked at Li Lu with anticipation.

A medicine that could speed up their progress to Entry Grade had to be an exceptionally rare treasure!

Hearing this, Li Lu recalled how he had nearly been boiled alive, and a smile crept onto his lips. He then began to explain the method of use.

When the four of them finished listening, they all stared at each other in dismay.

"Is... is this something a person can even survive?" the stocky Xiao Bing asked, his body trembling with a bit of fear.

"Are you kidding? Soak in boiling water? How is that any different from suicide?" Chen Eryun shook his head like a rattle drum.

Li Xian and Zhao the Seventh remained silent.

The same thought surfaced in both their minds: ’What kind of depraved maniac came up with this inhuman Cultivation method?’

Li Lu didn’t explain further. He just looked at them and said quietly:

"Seven months ago, I hadn’t even reached Entry Grade. Now, I’m Eighth Grade!"

Leaving them with that, he too returned to the city, leaving the four men utterly stunned.

Two Grade promotions in just seven months??

Instantly, a sharp glint flashed in the eyes of all four men as they stared at the medicinal powder in their hands.

"I’ll soak in it even if it kills me!" Chen Eryun said through gritted teeth.

"So there’s a reason this Cultivation method is so powerful!" Zhao the Seventh nodded solemnly.

Their attitudes changed completely, and they no longer hesitated.

They had learned from Li Lu that while it couldn’t get them to Entry Grade in one go, it could speed up the process!

That was enough!

As long as they performed well in the future, would there be a shortage of this powder?

After each of them instructed their subordinates to keep an eye on the farmland, they followed Li Lu back to the city.