After hearing Li Xian, Cheng Zongyang immediately asked, "What is it?"

Zhang Chuchu, knowing his place, tactfully excused himself.

Li Xian waited for Zhang Chuchu to leave before whispering to Cheng Zongyang:

"When our men were in Qingfeng County, the Foreign Race also went there to requisition grain. But the county was in such ruin that they left empty-handed.

Later, they happened to overhear one of the Outsiders complaining. He mentioned that the Foreign Race might send its various family forces to take control of the towns and counties within two months. Reinforcements and provisions would also be sent to the front lines.

But since the man was riding away on horseback, that was the only sentence they caught.

Because he only overheard it by chance, our agent nearly forgot about it. He only reported it later when it came back to him."

Cheng Zongyang’s expression turned grim as he listened. His eyes locked onto Li Xian as he asked in a cold voice:

"Are you sure that’s what he heard?! Could he be mistaken, or lying?"

Seeing Cheng Zongyang’s sudden gravity, Li Xian understood the severity of the situation. He cupped his fist and said, "I questioned him multiple times. He’s certain!"

Cheng Zongyang fell silent, lost in thought.

Seeing this, Li Xian promptly said, "Then I shall take my leave."

Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly.

After Li Xian left, Cheng Zongyang went into the rear courtyard alone while the butler closed the main gate.

In the study, Cheng Zongyang took out the Meditation Mat, placed it on a chair, and sat down.

A moment later, the clutter in his mind vanished. Cheng Zongyang’s breathing returned to its normal rhythm, and he automatically entered a state of Cultivation.

Only then did he carefully recall what Li Xian had just said.

’The Foreign Race is preparing to send their family forces to occupy the Land of Four Mansions.’ Cheng Zongyang’s expression was grave. ’Does this mean the war on the front lines is over?’

’According to intelligence he’d previously obtained from members of the Foreign Race, their various family forces wouldn’t dispatch factions to occupy various territories as long as the situation remained uncertain. Otherwise, if something unexpected happened, their entire investment would be for nothing.’

’For them to be making such plans now, does it mean the Thirteen Royal Families have finally conquered the Land of Four Mansions? Has Da Liang fallen? And has a victor been declared for the Fiery Sun Bird?’

’For Cheng Zongyang, it didn’t matter who won or lost. Once the deck was reshuffled, the Cheng Family’s entry into the County Town was inevitable. The only thing that would change was the scale of his investment.’

’If the situation truly stabilized with the Foreign Race taking over the County Town, it meant he would have to invest more. If not, he would invest less.’

’When it was time to divide the spoils, a small show of strength would be enough to secure a piece of the pie.’

’Without the Government Office’s restrictions, the rules of the Thirteen Royal Families would apply: only the strong get to eat.’

’And that was a method he much preferred.’

’I’ll keep waiting! Wait for more news!’ Cheng Zongyang’s eyes gleamed, unable to hide his excitement.

But as the Meditation Mat took effect, this wave of excitement quickly subsided, and he once again became calm and tranquil.

’While I wait, I also need to start arranging for our people to move into the County Town.’

So, he left his residence to find Li Lu, only returning in the middle of the night.

The night passed without incident.

The new day also ushered in a new month.

The arrival of April put Cheng Zongyang in a good mood; it meant the Wilderness Rice harvest was only a month or two away.

The rice plants were already beginning to sprout heads.

This made the people of the County Town increasingly excited and hopeful.

Cheng Zongyang went to the fields, looking out at the thriving rice paddies, the well-growing medicinal materials, and the new village that was already mostly complete. His mood was excellent.

After watching for a while, he had one of his men summon Zhao the Seventh.

In the shade of a tree, Zhao the Seventh approached Cheng Zongyang, who was reclining in a rocking chair reading a book. He bowed with cupped hands and spoke in a low voice.

"Sir, you wished to see me?"

Cheng Zongyang sat up and said to Zhao the Seventh, "Four things."

Upon hearing this, Zhao the Seventh’s expression grew solemn.

"First," Cheng Zongyang said, staring into Zhao the Seventh’s eyes, "starting today, make use of the County Town’s prison. Anyone caught swindling, bullying, engaging in petty theft, or causing trouble for no reason is to be arrested and locked up. Give them enough broth each day to keep them from starving, and that’s it."

’He already had a purchase order out for Soul Crystal Stones; no matter what, he had to have the people ready beforehand.’

Although Zhao the Seventh didn’t understand the reasoning, he quickly agreed. "Yes, I understand."

"Second, the Five Grains Inner Replenishing Pills are ready. There are more than twenty-four thousand of them. I’ve put them in the warehouse. You are to distribute them along with the remaining grain, prioritizing the artisans. Make sure they are used in tandem. Another five thousand jin of grain will be delivered later; try to make it all last until the harvest."

"Third, find me someone quick-witted. Preferably a local from within Jade Peak County who is familiar with the locations of the various villages and towns. I have a mission for them."

"Fourth, find me someone who knows how to ride a horse. Again, someone clever and sharp."

After hearing these orders, Zhao the Seventh took a moment to commit them to memory, then cupped his fist and said:

"Yes, Sir. I’ll see to it at once."

After Zhao the Seventh left, Cheng Zongyang took out a bottle of Qi Essence Pills, swallowed one, and went back to reading the Celestial Human Scroll in his hands.

He could now read the Celestial Human Scroll fluently, though its meaning still eluded him.

’The three volumes of the Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor were worth five hundred Points. He always felt there had to be more to it, especially since he had obtained it in the Wilderness World.’

Therefore, now that his Cultivation could advance automatically, he would take the scroll out to study it whenever he had a spare moment.

’Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will reveal itself.’

In the afternoon, Cheng Zongyang returned to the Wilderness World to check on things and was greeted with good news from Luo Dingran.

The purchase order was a success!

The acquisition of sixty Low Tier Soul Crystal Stones was complete, at a cost equivalent to four hundred sixty-four Points each.

The price was nearly half of what he had paid before, and the speed of the transaction was beyond his expectations.