"I do have a formula for a Martial Arts Medicine Bath, but it’s not the kind we use. It’s meant for soaking in after strenuous cultivation to recover from physical damage, so they don’t overtax and harm their bodies."

"This formula also helps strengthen one’s qi and blood to some extent, but the effect isn’t very pronounced. It would require long-term commitment."

After saying this, Cheng Zongyang thought for a moment and added:

"Besides, if they aren’t afraid of being powerless when the Outsiders eventually arrive, I can give them this medicine bath formula. It’s not a secret, anyway."

At this, Li Lu’s expression turned serious. Thinking Cheng Zongyang had heard some news from his "master," he couldn’t help but ask, "Don’t tell me the front lines already know?"

After the two entered the shed one after the other and sat down, Cheng Zongyang continued, "A little. But it won’t have a major impact. We just need to stick to the plan. The choice is theirs to make, and there will be no use for regrets later."

Li Lu understood the implication of the last sentence and laughed. "Don’t worry. It’s a blessing they even have a chance to cultivate. Who are they to be picky? If they cause any more trouble, I’ll just kill them."

Cheng Zongyang just smiled, not taking the threat too seriously. He then looked out at the people toiling in the fields and suddenly asked:

"Brother Li, what do you think about us building a village over there?"

As he spoke, Cheng Zongyang pointed toward the ruins of the villages in the direction of Lin Family Village. He continued:

"In the future, we will continue to build our power base within the County Town, but we also need our own foundation."

"The County Town is going to be a chaotic mix of people in the future, and there are many things we won’t be able to do there, like training Martial Artists or producing resources. So, if we have our own power base outside the city, we’ll be able to mobilize people whenever we need. It can serve as our secret base and a source of income. When the Outsiders arrive, they won’t dare to provoke us so easily, will they?"

From the information he had obtained, Jade Peak County would likely be occupied by the Lower Three Grade Families in the future.

The Thirteen Royal Families only concerned themselves with collecting taxes from these families and wouldn’t interfere in their personal conflicts. That meant he didn’t have to worry about the Lower Three Grade Families using the Royal Family’s name to intimidate people.

He and his group could establish their own foundation before the Outsiders arrived.

Even if Jade Peak County were to one day return to Da Liang’s rule, the foundation they had built would be strong enough to make them a Noble Race in the county!

As long as they didn’t provoke the Government Office, and considering that the original Gate Valve, Noble Family, and Noble Race factions in the Land of Four Mansions had suffered devastating losses, they wouldn’t have much to worry about.

This idea had only come to him after he understood the methods of the Thirteen Royal Families and the situation in the Land of Four Mansions.

Li Lu was stunned after hearing Cheng Zongyang’s proposal and fell into deep thought.

Cheng Zongyang didn’t disturb him. He stood up, walked to the doorway, and gazed outside.

A cool spring breeze swept by, carrying the mixed scents of soil and fresh grass. Here, among the fields, an unyielding Power was hidden within the gaunt bodies of the County Town’s people.

Even though they were starving, they still chatted and laughed with those around them. Wading through the mud, they personally transplanted rice seedlings one by one into the furrows, packed the soil around them, pressed it down, and then poured water over top.

Land and grain—this was the obsession deeply ingrained in the farmers’ very being.

To have land and seeds meant to have survival and a future.

Their faces, with high and prominent cheekbones, were flushed as if by the spring breeze. Sweat dripped from their foreheads onto the soil, a silent, sincere prayer for the future of these rice paddies.

At the edge of the fields, large pots were set up over fires, each one simmering with a soup of dried fish and wheat bran.

It was hardly delicious, but it filled their bellies, rehydrated them, and gave them the strength to keep working.

With not enough grain to go around, they filled themselves with soup as much as possible to ensure they had enough energy.

"I agree." Li Lu’s voice came from behind him.

Cheng Zongyang turned around and smiled. "So, what are your thoughts, Brother Li?"

Li Lu said with a solemn expression:

"Martial power! If we’re going to establish a village—our own village—then we’ll need more Martial Artists to protect it. Once the village has thirty or forty Entry Grade Martial Artists, not even an Eighth Grade would dare cause trouble. Double that, and even a Seventh Grade will have to be cautious."

Cheng Zongyang nodded in satisfaction. "So how will you do it?"

"We still have some Lower Three Grades Cultivation Techniques and Basic Martial Arts in our warehouse. We can select a portion of the people and begin their training. Combined with your medicine bath formula, we can train..."

"Brother Li," Cheng Zongyang had to interrupt him, sounding resigned. "We don’t have enough medicinal materials. Those ingredients have costs. My master can supply enough for a few people, but for dozens? That would cost a fortune."

’What a joke. The village is short on medicinal materials. Otherwise, we would have started training people in large batches long ago. Why else would we only be accepting a few at a time? Outsiders wouldn’t even get a chance.’

’If I want the freedom to use medicinal materials as I please, I can only wait for this current batch and the ones in the mountains to mature. They’re just cuttings, so it shouldn’t take too long.’

"Then we’ll find them in other towns! We’ll steal them if we have to!" Li Lu declared, his expression turning ruthless.

Cheng Zongyang smiled inwardly. His objective was achieved.

’This was exactly the effect I was hoping for.’

’Li Lu was an ambitious man. As long as he could see the future benefits, he would take the initiative.’

’Of course, this was also hugely beneficial for me and tied into my own plans.’

Cheng Zongyang feigned hesitation. "Won’t that be risky? The two towns closest to the County Town aren’t that far, I know, but they aren’t deserted either."

Li Lu laughed. "Don’t worry, Brother Cheng. Just write down a list of the ingredients for me. I’ll personally take some men to find them elsewhere. Once we have the medicinal materials, we can train a large number of Martial Artists, right?"

After a moment of contemplation, Cheng Zongyang said, "Since you’re going yourself, Brother Li, I’m sure our men will be safe. Alright. I’ll write out the list for you when we get back to the city."

’I don’t know if Li Lu is truly after the formula, but I’m not stupid enough to just hand it over. I’ll be sure to add ingredients from other formulas to the list.’

’Since they’re going out to gather them anyway, might as well have them collect some extra things for me.’

"Oh, right, Brother Li. Have Zhao the Seventh and his men search through the crowd. There should be quite a few people who know how to build houses. Once you’ve found them, send them to my residence. I want to talk to them about how to construct the village."

Hearing this, Li Lu immediately agreed. "Done."

And so, the two left the shed and went their separate ways to get busy.

When Cheng Zongyang returned to the County Town, his steward and servants were all there, bustling about to prepare food and boil water.

"Steward Zhang, has anything else happened in the County Town these past few days?"

Entering the courtyard, Cheng Zongyang asked Zhang Chuchu, who had followed him in.

The man had once been the steward for a family in the County Town. But after being targeted twice, first by Luo Dingran and then by the Foreign Race, the family had all but disintegrated, forcing them to dismiss their staff and flee the county.

Zhang Chuchu had been left behind. He was later found by Zhao the Seventh, who introduced him to Cheng Zongyang to manage his home and courtyard.

For the most part, however, he was idle, as Cheng Zongyang lived alone and there wasn’t much to do.

Hearing the question, Zhang Chuchu responded respectfully:

"Reporting to Young Master, as per your instructions, I have remained at home unless it was absolutely necessary. Lord Li and the others knew you were away, so they have not called. I did hear some gossip from the neighbors, but it was just idle talk, nothing worth noting."

Cheng Zongyang gave a slight nod. "Steward Zhang, you’ve lived in Jade Peak County for a long time, and I’ve never really asked you about certain matters. As it happens, there are a few things I’d like to ask you about today."

"Please ask, Young Master," Zhang Chuchu said respectfully. "I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

As Cheng Zongyang entered the main hall and sat down, a maidservant brought in a cup of tea, placed it on the table, and then respectfully withdrew.

Cheng Zongyang didn’t rush to drink his tea. He looked at Zhang Chuchu.

"You’ve been in the county for many years. Besides the Chaotic Burial Mound outside the city, do you know where else in the County Town large numbers of bodies are disposed of?"

’I still needed to sort out the matter of the Soul Crystal Stones on this trip. But I’d already collected most of the ones in the Chaotic Burial Mound, and my progress had slowed considerably.’

’People die in the County Town every day. Surely they aren’t all just tossed into the Chaotic Burial Mound?’

’Three Soul Crystal Stones, for a total of six thousand progress points. To gather them quickly, I have to find a new spot. But I don’t know anything about these places of the dead, so I’m completely in the dark.’

Zhang Chuchu didn’t question the reason for the inquiry. He immediately cupped his fist and answered without a second thought:

"Reporting to Young Master, there used to be three places in the County Town for disposing of bodies."

"First is the Chaotic Burial Mound you mentioned. Second is the Soul-Soothing Slope, located three li east of the North Gate."

"The Soul-Soothing Slope is a burial ground specifically for the common people of the County Town."

"Third is the Soul-Loss Pit. The Coffin home in South City temporarily stores unclaimed bodies. If a body isn’t claimed after seven days, the staff at the Coffin home will either take it to the Chaotic Burial Mound or to the Soul-Loss Pit, which lies at the foot of a mountain two li east of South City."

"It’s a natural chasm of unknown depth; it has never been seen filled. As for the place where the most deaths occur, that would have to be the prison."