After organizing all personnel and establishing the functions of the Earth Demon Hall, Li Lu dispatched men to set up watch posts on the official roads leading to Jade Peak County from Linchuan Prefecture, Shangyong County, and Qingfeng County.

If they spotted a large group of people heading their way, they were to report back immediately.

After such a long wait, there was finally news.

"Has Brother Cheng returned?" Li Lu asked.

"Not yet. When he left, he said he’d be gone for three to four days. He’ll probably be back in about two more days," Zhao the Seventh replied.

Li Lu thought for a moment, then quickly gave his orders. "Have all the brothers lead the farming peasants into the city. Only the brothers who have reached Entry Grade are to remain in Tiantuan Village.

"The rest of the brothers should settle down in the city and not make any moves. Just wait there for updates on the situation.

"If all goes as planned, they shouldn’t come into the village to investigate. But just in case, I will personally hold down the fort here.

"I’ll head in after everyone is inside the city. Also, bring me that Elf Bird. I need to send a message!"

During this period, he had been constantly taking auxiliary medicines and was on the verge of breaking through to the Seventh Grade Realm.

He was just one final step away, but it couldn’t be rushed.

Still, he was more than a match for an ordinary Eighth Grade Martial Artist. And with the fifty brothers who were about to reach Entry Grade...

As long as they didn’t have to fight, their presence alone would be a deterrent. Of course, that was assuming the enemy’s numbers weren’t too great.

Zhao the Seventh hurried off to make the arrangements, bringing the Elf Bird over at the same time.

Li Lu quickly grabbed paper and a brush, jotted down the key information, then placed the note into the small bamboo tube on the Elf Bird’s leg and released it.

The palm-sized, multicolored Elf Bird instantly shot into the sky like a whistling arrow, vanishing into the clouds high above.

Its speed was far beyond his expectations.

This was the first time he had ever used an Elf Bird!

He had brought one on his first trip out but hadn’t needed it, so he didn’t bother bringing it on the second.

’What kind of bird could possibly catch it?’ Li Lu marveled, then resumed waiting for the thirty-some men to finish their medicinal baths.

While he waited, he also sent someone to the County Town to inform Zhou Zhendong, who was staying at Cheng Zongyang’s residence.

He had to be notified about this matter as well.

Cheng Zongyang had left by himself. The men he brought with him were all staying in the County Town, while Li Lu was essentially managing everything here in the village.

The County Town no longer needed any managing.

「Cheng Family Village, Extragalactic Region.」

Inside a large brick warehouse next to the Storehouse, a group of over a dozen people watched as a Mole Beast, more than two meters tall, dug a gently sloping tunnel downward under Cheng Zongyang’s command.

Behind the Mole Beast, over a dozen villagers shoveled away the excavated earth and rock. Two Martial Artists stood by to assist, ready to move any particularly heavy stones.

"Thirty meters... isn’t that too deep?"

Zhou Hansong said with some hesitation, looking at the sloping entrance of the tunnel, which already descended six or seven meters.

Cheng Zongyang shook his head slightly. "Thirty meters is just a rough estimate. We’ll have to adjust based on the subterranean conditions. Besides, the deeper it is, the less likely anyone on the surface will find it. And if enemies enter the tunnel in the future, we can use our backup measures to bury them alive!"

Then, Cheng Zongyang turned to his father. "Dad, try to make the slope as gentle as possible. Otherwise, it’ll be hard for cargo carts to get up."

He had already given his father command of the Mole Beast. From now on, the excavation of the underground passage would be his responsibility.

Cheng Guanghai nodded. "Don’t worry. I know what to do."

FLAP FLAP FLAP FLAP~

Suddenly, the sound of flapping wings came from the entrance. The next moment, a small, multicolored bird was circling near the warehouse ceiling.