Roar——

A thunderous roar echoed across the Sunset Grassland.

The dominance of the mythical beast ruled the entire Sunset Grassland; its roar scared people out of their wits, making it impossible for others in the arena to continue their challenges.

From the Dragon Tooth Camp, Bai Xi watched the scene unfold, laughing so hard her waist shook. "I can’t believe even the boss has a day like this, Qingge is simply amazing!"

With a mythical beast in the arena, who could succeed in the challenge?

The most delightful thing was seeing a once mighty fierce beast now repressed in the arena, it made her feel all grudges were avenged!

"Did Qingge mention where she’s going?" Yin Chen, standing beside her, asked.

"No." Bai Xi replied tersely. Then, smirking, she added teasingly, "With that lord accompanying her, we needn’t worry about where she’s headed. After all, she left the matters here in Mo Yang’s hands."

Hearing this, Yin Chen turned to leave.

Bai Xi was startled and blurted out, "Where are you going?"

Yin Chen paused, slightly turned his head, and said to her, "I feel like I’m about to break through."

After leaving this sentence, he gracefully walked away.

Bai Xi blinked, watching his back, and after a moment, she huffed discontentedly, "What’s the big deal, you’re not the only one about to break through."

...

With Lord Si Mo flying in the air, Mu Qingge had nothing to do and decided to enjoy the aerial views.

However, Lord Si Mo’s speed was too fast, making every scenery appear like flashes of lightning, disappearing quickly from her sight.

"How far is the city you mentioned from the Sunset Grassland?" Mu Qingge asked, lifting her head against the wind.

Si Mo looked down at her and chuckled, "You are so impatient, unwilling to wait even a few days. Luckily, that place isn’t far from the Sunset Grassland."

"Is your ’not far’ based on your speed or mine?" Mu Qingge frowned.

Their speeds were not comparable.

Si Mo laughed, "Even your Dragon Tooth Guards would take only half a month to walk there. If they use flying beasts, it would take one or two days."

One or two days? That’s fine.

During this period, she estimated she’d be active in the West Continent, and staying nearby would make it easier to support each other.

Mu Qingge barely nodded.

"Just leaving them in the Sunset Grassland, you’re not worried?" Si Mo half-joked.

Mu Qingge calmly replied, "With the mythical beast there, what is there to worry about? You said it yourself, its current cultivation is at the Golden Realm Sixth Layer. Who on the Sunset Grassland could be its match? Besides, there are Mo Yang, Yin Chen, and Bai Xi overseeing, nothing will happen; the Grand Hunt has already concluded. Of course, I can’t waste time, I must rush to scout out the next target! What if I’m not satisfied with the place you mentioned?"

Si Mo laughed at her words; this girl clearly couldn’t wait to see the abandoned city, yet she played it off as entirely justified.

"Don’t worry, Little Ge’er, you’ll definitely be satisfied with that place," Si Mo confidently assured.

Si Mo flew with Mu Qingge for half a day before finally landing in a dense forest.

"Here?" Mu Qingge looked around in surprise.

All she saw were trees, where was the city?

Si Mo explained, "Where you stand was once the main passage leading there, abandoned for years, naturally overgrown with weeds and trees."

Mu Qingge looked at him, stunned, her gaze landing on the thick trees around her, she couldn’t help but ask, "How long has the city been abandoned?"

Si Mo calculated for a moment and gave an answer that left Mu Qingge speechless: "Twelve thousand eight hundred sixty-two years."

What the heck!

’Over ten thousand years, is there even a city left?’ Mu Qingge ridiculed in her heart.

She twitched the corner of her mouth and said to Si Mo, "You don’t intend for me to rebuild a city where this one once stood, do you?" Haha, she truly had no interest in playing the role of a builder.

"It’s not that troublesome," Si Mo replied calmly.

He skillfully took Mu Qingge’s hand and led her deeper into the woods.

Mu Qingge, unable to do anything, allowed him to guide her. She observed the surroundings, the towering trees provided ample lumber, with tree trunks and soil covered in moss. Looking up, the dense branches obscured the sky, creating a mosaicked pattern with sunbeams streaming through.

After walking for a while, Mu Qingge noticed some stone blocks partially hidden under grass, showing traces of handmade carvings, though they too were blanketed in moss.

The presence of these items suggested that people once lived here, or perhaps, as Si Mo mentioned, it was indeed a grand city.

"We’re here." Suddenly, Si Mo said.

Mu Qingge snapped back to herself, casting her gaze forward.

In front, the trees were equally dense, but their arrangement was more orderly, with clearer traces of pathways.

Lush greenery and fragmented sunlight formed a golden net at the line of sight’s end, blocking the view and secluding everything behind it.

For some reason, Mu Qingge released Si Mo’s hand and slowly walked forward.

Si Mo watched her, not stopping, quietly following behind, a faint smile hanging on his peach-colored lips.

The closer Mu Qingge got, the more her view was enveloped in sunshine, as if she were bathing in its glow.

In Si Mo’s eyes, it seemed as if she stepped into the sunlight, her form becoming hazy.

The intense light made Mu Qingge instinctively close her eyes. Yet, her steps didn’t falter and she continued to proceed forward.

When she felt she had passed through the golden net of sunlight, she slowly opened her eyes again...

The scene before her was so astonishing that she was rooted to the spot in shock.

In the distance, due to the intrusion of a newcomer, several birds took flight, shattering the peace of the place.

A city! A gloriously majestic city!

The gray-white silhouette was reflected in Mu Qingge’s clear eyes. Even though the city was wrapped in vines and cloaked in moss, its former allure remained unmasked.

The mottled traces resembled the memories time had left behind, not damaging the city’s aesthetic, but instead adding a sense of profound history.

The moat had long since dried up, yet the drawbridge remained hoisted high, its iron chains with dragon heads glared angrily, displaying its majesty.

Mu Qingge’s feet moved forward involuntarily, taking a step.

Unnoticed, Si Mo was already by her side, his hazel eyes casually sweeping over the city ahead, saying to the enraptured woman beside him, "Isn’t it surprising?"

Mu Qingge instinctively nodded, drawn in by the stone pillars surrounding the outer city.

The stone pillars stood tall and straight, needing four people to encircle one completely. Green vines twined upon them, obscuring the exquisite carvings, making them faintly visible.

Mu Qingge roughly estimated that each pillar towered about thirty meters high, and atop every pillar, concealed under moss and vines, was either a sitting, standing, or sleeping divine beast.

"These are called Beast Guardian Pillars, a total of one hundred and eight pillars, carved with one hundred and eight different divine beasts and fierce beasts. In cities from ten thousand years ago, Beast Guardian Pillars were not rare; almost every city had several, symbolizing a protective power. However, having over a hundred is exceptionally rare. Unfortunately, after ten thousand years, this tradition has slowly faded and been forgotten by people. Luckily, here they are preserved perfectly; these Beast Guardian Pillars still stand around the city, shielding this sanctuary." Si Mo’s voice resonated in Mu Qingge’s ears.

His explanation made her appreciate the Beast Guardian Pillars even more.

Protection...

Her belief in the past life, and the motivation guiding her now, was it not for this?

Everyone has something in their heart they will strive to protect with all their might, and she is no exception.

"What kind of city is this? Why was it suddenly abandoned? And why, even after ten thousand years, is it still so well-preserved?" Mu Qingge kept voicing her inner doubts.

Originally, she thought she would see ruins and broken walls, rough stone steps. But to her surprise, she saw a city that was perfectly preserved, as if it had never been abandoned.

"This place was once called Luoxing City. As for why it was abandoned, tracing it back is too far to remember. You just need to know that its former owner was also a woman. Through her own efforts, she developed Luoxing City into the most influential city in the Middle Ancient Realm, rivaling the Divine Hall of that time," Si Mo slowly explained.

Mu Qingge turned back to look at him, shock written in her clear eyes. "Luoxing City, it was once so glorious? What about the woman? Why did she allow her city to fall into ruin?"

She faintly felt that this city held an untold story, and the ending of that story seemed not so good.

Si Mo was silent for a moment, staring at the city, he said, "Even though she was so powerful, she couldn’t escape the woes of emotions. She fell in love with someone she shouldn’t have. For him, she cultivated frantically, wanting to live on the Divine Demon Continent with her beloved, neglecting the city. Eventually, she fulfilled her wish and reached the man’s side, only to find that the man she swore eternal love to was surrounded by wives and concubines. In the end, she became his eighty-ninth concubine."

"..." Mu Qingge frowned slightly. She didn’t expect the story to turn out like this.

At the same time, she seemed to sense a fluctuation in Si Mo’s emotions.

"She stayed by that man’s side for thirty thousand years, giving birth to children for him, hoping to change his philandering ways with time. But over those thirty thousand years, she only saw more and more concubines being welcomed into his home. She eventually became disheartened, left the children behind, and returned to Luoxing City alone. But by then, Luoxing City, having lost her, was suffocating under many pressures and was barely surviving. Her return changed nothing, because after three thousand years, Luoxing City was no longer the city she was familiar with. Finally, she personally destroyed this place, drove out everyone in the city, and annihilated the family that oppressed Luoxing City the most fiercely... Lastly, she used a suicidal attack to destroy a Divine Hall." When Si Mo finished, his breath had become somewhat chilly.

Though his tone was still calm, Mu Qingge could hear the turbulence beneath his tranquility.

Mu Qingge held Si Mo’s hand and found his hand was very cold.

Feeling the warmth coming from Mu Qingge, Si Mo snapped out of his thoughts and smiled at her, "I’m okay."

Mu Qingge looked at him, wanting to ask if the story was related to him, if the woman was related to him.

But in the end, she asked nothing.

Though Si Mo’s story didn’t explicitly conclude what happened to the woman, Mu Qingge could tell that she had perished. She fell together with Luoxing City, which she had built with her own hands.

"The city is well-preserved because, at the time of its establishment, a grand and complex array was left at its foundation. This array could preserve the city against decay, no matter what kind of attacks it faced. Of course, if the attack came from a powerful figure from the Divine and Demon Clans, it would be a different matter." Si Mo collected his emotions and brought the topic back on track.

Mu Qingge listened, her eyes bright, moved to the core.

With such an array, she would practically have an invincible position.

"Can it really fend off attacks?" Mu Qingge asked.

Si Mo chuckled and shook his head, "It’s not that it can fend off attacks. It’s just that when attacks fall on the city, it won’t suffer damage. It’s her heart and soul, just like her child. So when she built this, she sought the input of several Array Masters to ensure her city would remain undying."

Mu Qingge understood and nodded. Though she was a bit disappointed it wasn’t as she thought, it was still pretty good. At least, she could save a lot on repair costs.

"Shall I take you inside to see?" Si Mo suggested.

Mu Qingge nodded.

Then, Si Mo took Mu Qingge into the air, to first overlook the entire city.

This perspective allowed Mu Qingge to see the entirety of Luoxing City. The city stretched at least a hundred miles, grand in scale, with star-like patterns etched on the ground. It was surrounded by forests, isolating it from the prying eyes of the outside world.

Luoxing City had five city gates, connecting the five directions. Mu Qingge didn’t understand the Five Elements, but she vaguely felt it was arranged based on the Five Elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. But after ten thousand years, the surroundings outside the city had long changed dramatically, making it hard to discern the original layout.

Within the city, buildings stood in an orderly yet scattered manner, streets crisscrossed and interconnected. Almost every main street would eventually connect to the tallest building in the central area.

That castle, like a mountain, layered and covered with vines, flowering magnificently, looked like a floating garden. Atop the tallest building in the castle, it seemed there was a sword standing upright, pointing toward the sky. Embedded on the sword’s tip was a star, though its glow had dimmed now.

"This place could accommodate at least a million people!" Descending from the air, Mu Qingge marveled to Si Mo.

Half-jokingly, she said, "If I were to occupy this place without permission, would I be troubled by the descendants of that woman?"

"No," Si Mo answered succinctly.

This answer led Mu Qingge to look at him, her smiling eyes filled with curiosity.

Si Mo remained calm, saying, "Ten thousand years have passed. If her descendants cared about this place, how could they let it remain abandoned?"

Mu Qingge didn’t ask further, just nodded meaningfully.

In the deserted city, after strolling around, Mu Qingge laughed, "I really like it here."

Si Mo watched her, smiling, "As long as you like it. Once confirmed, we just need to fix the old post roads, then renovate this place, and you can proclaim it to the world. Little Ge’er, what would you like to name this city?"

"Let’s keep it Luoxing City," Mu Qingge looked at him with determination.

Her answer left Si Mo momentarily stunned.

Mu Qingge explained, "The name is good enough, and with such a story, it’s great to let it continue. Since I’m taking over someone else’s place, I should do something; otherwise, it feels like theft."

Watching her, for a long moment, Si Mo revealed a gentle smile, "Alright, as you wish."

"Shall we head back after seeing the place?" Mu Qingge asked.

Si Mo, however, smiled without a word, taking her hand and leading her toward the tallest castle in the city.

Suspiciously, Mu Qingge watched him, but since he remained silent, she asked no more.

Inside the castle, the furniture had long decayed. It seemed the array could only protect the city from decaying, not the objects inside it.

"Looks like just furnishing will be a significant expense." Mu Qingge mentally calculated, feeling slightly pained.

She always positioned herself as someone poor, even though she had plenty of spirit stones in her space, and even a spirit-eating beast that could find and spit out spirit stones, she still considered herself poor.

Because she was feeding a bunch of big eaters!

If she did something, she had to do it the best. Look at the equipment of the Dragon Tooth Guards, not a single one was cheap.

Si Mo led her all the way to the high tower, standing by the window.

Above them was the star embedded on the sword tip.

"Do you know why this place is called Luoxing City?" Si Mo suddenly asked.

Mu Qingge shook her head.

She had only heard of the name Luoxing City today, how could she know its origin?

Yet, Si Mo didn’t explain, just smiled silently, holding Mu Qingge in his arms, together enjoying the beautiful scenery outside the window.

From this height, they could see the tops of the trees around.

The lush green leaves formed a sea, stretching beyond sight, seemingly connecting with the horizon. At this time, the sunset, like blood-red remaining sunlight, bathed the leaves, a magnificent beauty spreading like vast waves.

"So beautiful!" Mu Qingge, leaning in Si Mo’s arms, bathed in the sunset, sincerely praised.

She had been to many places, but such scenery was a first for her.

Even the endless jade pear trees at Guji Mountain paled in comparison to what she saw now.

Quietly admiring the scene, she thought, "Is Si Mo trying to watch the sunset with me? Are we going to stand here all night, waiting for tomorrow’s sunrise?"

This man was unusually emotional today, the characters in the story seemed related to him.

Mu Qingge pursed her lips, deciding not to disturb the man, simply staying silently with him would suffice.

"If we stand all night, so be it. Consider it as cultivation," Mu Qingge thought determinedly.

Who made her man have something on his mind right now?

Si Mo didn’t speak, and neither did Mu Qingge. They just stood there quietly together.

Gradually, the night descended, starlight appeared—

In the night, watching the changing scenery in front, Mu Qingge was so shocked she dropped her jaw, leaving Si Mo’s embrace to lean onto the window with both hands.

In her clear eyes, stars fell like rain, as beautiful as a fairytale realm!

It seemed as though the stars in the entire sky were, at this moment, falling to this place.

This fantastical scene made her unable to resist stretching out her hand, reaching out the window, hoping to catch the falling starlight. Yet, the starlight, like raindrops, vanished as soon as it touched her palm. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

She closed her fingers, wanting to hold on and prevent the starlight from disappearing, but realized it was all in vain.

Si Mo walked up behind her, his amber eyes also covered by the starlight. "The scenery of Luoxing City, unique in the Three Thousand Worlds. Little Ge’er, do you now understand the origin of Luoxing City’s name?"

Mu Qingge nodded vigorously, already immersed in this magical beauty. "How could this be?"

Her question came from the heart.

"No one knows why it is like this, nor where the starlight goes after it falls." Si Mo answered.

"Is it a miracle of nature?" Mu Qingge murmured.

Suddenly, she turned around to look at Si Mo, joyfully asking like a young girl, "Does this happen every night?"

Si Mo nodded, "As long as it doesn’t rain, it will be like this. Such a spectacle will continue until midnight, then it will disappear."

"A Mo, let’s go out." Mu Qingge showed a stunning smile.

A trace of doubt appeared in Si Mo’s amber eyes.

"Because no one knows where the starlight comes from or where it goes, so at this time, people who have seen it are usually admiring it from inside their houses. However, if Little Ge’er wants to go out, what’s the harm in that?" Si Mo’s eyes were filled with doting affection.

Mu Qingge impatiently pulled Si Mo directly out of the window, landing on the ground.

Her red dress swayed lightly, drawing a bewitching arc in the night.

Since leaving the Sunset Grassland, she had returned to her female attire.

At this moment, facing Si Mo, she placed her hands on his shoulders, smiling charmingly, "Do you remember the dance you learned from me?"

Si Mo’s eyes lit up, and he instantly guessed her intention.

He nodded.

How could he ever forget such a dance? It would remain etched in his heart for eternity!

Mu Qingge raised his hand, placing it on her waist, and said to him, "How about we dance once more?"

"It would be an honor." Si Mo replied with a smile. His remarkable handsome features softened.

Mu Qingge started to move, dancing with Si Mo among the starlight. They danced with the simplest movements but with more harmony than the first time, gazing deeply into each other’s eyes.

Mystic robe and red gown, gracefully dancing, swaying like butterflies, letting the starlight fall upon them, resembling fairies in the forest and elves in the mountains.

"A Mo, I am not her, and you are not that heartless, unfeeling man." While dancing, Mu Qingge looked at Si Mo and suddenly said.

Si Mo’s body noticeably stiffened, and there was an enigmatic change in his eyes as he looked at Mu Qingge. Even the dance steps halted, and they maintained the final pose of the dance, staring at each other like a pair of statues.

After a long time, he threw his head back and laughed heartily.

His long arms encircled her, embracing Mu Qingge in his arms. Under his movement, Mu Qingge’s red dress flew up gracefully, like butterfly wings.

Falling into the man’s embrace, Mu Qingge wrapped her arms around his neck, a smile at the corner of her lips, and her clear eyes were filled with incomparable determination and trust.

Si Mo restrained his laughter, lowering his head, his amber eyes like a vast universe gazing at her as if she was a treasure.

"My little Ge’er, my little Ge’er..." he murmured passionately, capturing her slightly parted red lips, kissing deeply under the starlight...

...

On the Sunset Grassland, the grand hunt was nearing its end.

On the Dragon Tooth Arena, after the commotion caused by the fierce beast, no one dared to underestimate the rabbit lazily dozing on the stage anymore.

Many families and floating guests had already started to leave the Sunset Grassland, heading to various places to continue their life’s journey.

Five years later, when they gather here again, many may no longer be present, and many new faces will have joined.

Upon parting, Xuan Yue, Bailian, and Giant Spirit, the three major powers, met once more.

The Giant Spirit Commander grumbled discontentedly, "Hmph, Dragon Teeth is really cunning, actually having a powerful spirit beast guard the stage!"

"Spirit beast? I fear it might not be that simple. Having journeyed across places all these years, have you ever seen such a formidable spirit beast? I believe it might be at the level of a divine beast or even a holy beast." Xuan Yue’s commander remarked.

"Divine beast, holy beast? Impossible! They aren’t people from the Jing Family of Central Continent, how could they make the Beast Clan bow down?" Giant Spirit Commander was unwilling to believe.

Xuan Yue’s commander, however, said, "Who knows? Their origins are mysterious, constantly shattering our understanding, and now pulling such a stunt, making it even more difficult for us to fathom their cards. Our intention to hold the grand hunt ahead of schedule was to ascertain Dragon Teeth’s foundation, but now we’ve become even more unable to discern it."

"In any case, Dragon Teeth is not simple, and neither is that Master Mu. My men had a little friction with them in the Canglan Mountain Range which also involved the Gong Family. We thought the Gong Family would suppress Dragon Teeth, but unexpectedly, the matter was left unsettled." Bailian’s commander said.

"So what do we do hereafter? Just acknowledge Dragon Teeth’s status?" Giant Spirit Commander asked, unwilling.

"What else can we do? The points are there, the strength is there." Xuan Yue’s commander was somewhat displeased.

Bailian’s commander thought for a moment and said, "Anyway, we have four years until the next division of benefits; let’s just wait and see how they develop within these four years. If by then, they still lack a fixed city, enough manpower, and influence, they won’t be able to compete with us. Even if we are willing to give up the Spirit Stone Mine, they won’t be able to hold it."

His words received approval from the commanders of Xuan Yue and Giant Spirit.

Originally withholding from one another, the three major forces had surprisingly united due to the sudden emergence of Dragon Teeth.

...

The performance ended and many had left the Sunset Grassland.

However, within the Dragon Tooth Camp, there was no sign of departure. Regardless of how the people on the Sunset Grassland acted, they were proceeding with their own rhythm, leisurely attending to their duties.

It’s just that these past two days, visits have been continually sent into the Dragon Tooth Camp.

Among them were also from the Ying Family, the Sang Family, and others.

"Miss Sang, our little Lord is not here, please take your leave." Mo Yang once again refused Sang Xuewu.

Sang Xuewu was extremely disappointed.

The Sang Family was about to leave the Sunset Grassland, yet she still couldn’t meet Mu Qingge once more.

Helplessly, she could only say, "Please relay to her that we’ll be waiting for her at the Sang Family in Fusha City."

After Mo Yang nodded, she reluctantly left.

After sending off Sang Xuewu, Mo Yang welcomed Qin Yiyao. Compared to the former, Mo Yang’s attitude towards Qin Yiyao was slightly better. "Princess Yiyao, our little Lord has gone out and is not in the camp."

Qin Yiyao nodded, "I only came to bid farewell. Since she is not here, please convey my message."

Mo Yang nodded and added, "The little Lord instructed that if Princess Yiyao needs help, you can always come to me."

"Thank you very much," she replied.

After nodding, Mo Yang watched her depart reluctantly.

Upon returning, Mu Qingge was already back. But by her side, Si Mo was nowhere to be seen.

Mo Yang approached, nodding respectfully, but Mu Qingge stood by the map she had hung and didn’t seem to notice Mo Yang approaching.

She had returned from the Sunset Grassland and had once again donned her female attire.

Even though she had already prepared herself, she only had the palace bell at her waist accompanying her, with Si Mo not there.

His last words echoed in her mind, "Wait for me!"

"""

"Young Lord." Seeing that Mu Qingge hadn’t turned around for a while, Mo Yang spoke up.

Mu Qingge lightly flickered her gaze, composed her emotions, and turned to look at Mo Yang.

"I didn’t know the Young Lord had returned. Miss Sang and Princess Yiyao came to bid you farewell earlier, but I stopped them. They shouldn’t have gone far yet. Should I bring them back?" Mo Yang asked.

Mu Qingge shook her head, "No need." She didn’t feel like seeing them right now. Since they already left, there’s no need to call them back.

"You came at the right time; gather everyone together. I have important news to announce," Mu Qingge said to Mo Yang.

Mo Yang acknowledged the order and left. Before long, Bai Xi, Yin Chen, Yuanyuan, You He, Hua Yue, Xuan Ya, Xie Ya, Xuan Kui, and Jing Hai, who had a new scar on his face, all entered Mu Qingge’s main tent one by one.

"Sit down." Mu Qingge sat at the main seat and casually pointed to the seats on both sides, gesturing for everyone to sit.

After they were seated, Mu Qingge said, "I called you here today to announce something. Heavenly level wandering teams all have their own cities as fixed bases, which also facilitate the development of power. I went out to find such a place, and I’ve found it now."

Mu Qingge found a city in just a few days?!

This news made everyone’s eyes shine. Especially Mo Yang, whose calm and deep eyes burned with a flame.

Mu Qingge raised her hand to gently stroke the rabbit lying on the desk in front of her, brushing the fur on its back, making the dozing beast shiver all over.

"Today, I intend to reassign you. The place I’ve found isn’t far from here, but it’s abandoned, and it requires all of you to work together to revitalize it," Mu Qingge said.

"Yes, Young Lord!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

"Qingge, just tell us what to do."

"Qingge, however you say, I’ll do it."

"I’ll follow the leader!"

"Please instruct us, instructor!"

Everyone agreed one after another.

Mu Qingge nodded slightly, and a small beast resembling a pangolin appeared in her palm. She tossed it to Mo Yang.

Mo Yang caught it with both hands, glanced at the small beast, and met its big, round eyes curiously examining him.

"This is a spirit-eating beast, with another realm in its stomach. It has consumed many of my spirit stones, and now it’s time for it to bring them out. Moreover, it can find spirit stone mine veins, so use it wisely. Additionally, I’ll give you some gold and silver treasures to take over for repairing the city." As Mu Qingge spoke, she threw a blueprint book to Yin Chen. "This has the repair designs I’ve drawn. Yin Chen, you’ll stay and work with Mo Yang this time."

Yin Chen nodded and put away the book.

"Once the city is repaired, Mo Yang will announce it to the world. At that time, recruit people to expand the Dragon Teeth. Everyone recruited will have a probation period. Those who pass can stay, and those who don’t pass will leave. Selection will prioritize character, with cultivation second. I allow you to recruit ten thousand people this time, organizing them into the Dragon Hidden Army. Their training will be consistent with the Dragon Teeth, using members of Dragon Teeth to train them. Remember, only those who pass the trial and become formal members of the Dragon Hidden Army can practice these three martial arts." Mu Qingge finished speaking and swept the table, revealing three books.

These are among the many cultivation techniques she brought back from the ancient ruins, carefully chosen to entice people to join.

"Yes, Young Lord." Mo Yang responded and stepped forward to collect the three martial arts books.

Mu Qingge looked at Xuan Kui and said, "Staying with Dragon Teeth is more useful than staying by my side, and your spear technique still needs honing. So, follow Dragon Teeth for now."

"Xuan Kui will follow the Young Master’s orders." Xuan Kui immediately replied.

Mu Qingge nodded and then said to Jing Hai, "Since your talent has been discovered, cultivate diligently and study earnestly. As for city building, just follow Mo Yang’s instructions."

"Understood, instructor." Jing Hai replied promptly.

"You He and Hua Yue, you both will also stay with Dragon Teeth temporarily, assist Mo Yang in building the city, and quickly establish our intelligence network. During construction, relevant tasks should continue, as the reputation of Dragon Teeth has just started and must not disappear." Mu Qingge instructed.

After going through everyone, Mu Qingge’s gaze fell onto Xuan Ya, Xie Ya, and Yuanyuan. "You three will continue to follow me." She naturally had to bring Xuan Ya and Xie Ya, who had the Divine Strategy Map. As for Yuanyuan, leaving him behind wouldn’t serve much purpose, and might cause trouble, so it was better to bring him along. At least she could send him into the space to keep Mengmeng company.

"As for Bai Xi..." Mu Qingge finally looked at Bai Xi. "I need to recraft a batch of equipment. Stay with me for now. After I finish, you will deliver them to Dragon Teeth."

"Got it," Bai Xi replied with an adorable voice.

After giving her orders, Mu Qingge stood up, her gaze burning as she looked at them. "Our city will be called Luoxing City!"

...

Mu Qingge returned to the Sunset Grassland, and the previously quiet Dragon Tooth Camp finally started mobilizing.

However, as they were about to leave, the Dragon Tooth Camp received an unexpected visitor.

Mu Qingge looked at the person standing in front of her with an unpleasant expression.

"He’s gone?" Han Caicai glanced around and asked Mu Qingge.

"None of your business." Mu Qingge answered coolly.

This attitude made Han Caicai show a bitter smile. That defeated look was something Mu Qingge had never seen on him before. "Are you still mad at me? I came today to apologize to you."

Han Caicai’s words made Mu Qingge frown slightly, her expression still stern.

"We’ve had some connection, can’t you trust me this once?" Han Caicai’s voice carried a hint of pleading under her dismissive expression.

Mu Qingge remained silent.

Han Caicai could only continue, "I did overstep before. I shouldn’t have interfered in your personal matters, nor said those things to you. I really don’t know why I acted that way, as if possessed."

Mu Qingge remained coldly silent.

"Perhaps, it was after discovering his identity that I lost control..." Han Caicai attempted to explain.

"So? Is Han Young Master’s apology just pushing responsibility onto others?" Mu Qingge cut him off with a mocking tone.

"No!" Han Caicai quickly replied. "I’m just trying to say that after I learned of his identity, I lost control. I presumptuously believed you shouldn’t and couldn’t be together, losing myself in the process."

Mu Qingge narrowed her eyes slightly, and with a cold smile, looked at him, "Do you think this is an opportunity? That as long as I sever ties with him by listening to you, you have a chance?"

Mu Qingge’s blunt words made Han Caicai’s face change, but he still nodded.

This deepened the mockery in Mu Qingge’s eyes, "Han Caicai, I remember telling you, even without him, nothing will ever happen between you and me. Did you take my words as mere air?"

Han Caicai raised his gaze to her, his long eyes fluctuating, trying hard to hide his hurt emotions.

The two locked eyes, a fiery exchange occurring between their glances.

Slightly later, Han Caicai was forced to relent and bit out, "You did say that."

"Then why persist? Do you really wish to exhaust the little connection between us?" Mu Qingge asked sharply.

The previous Han Caicai acted like a madman, and she couldn’t be bothered.

Now that he took the initiative to approach, she naturally needed to awaken this man!

"Because I’m unwilling! Because I like you!" Han Caicai shouted in frustration.

Mu Qingge slowly shook her head, "Your unwillingness comes from not being used to rejection. Your liking is only for yourself. Have you ever considered whether I like you? Or if being with you would make me happy? Han Caicai, don’t deny it, the person you love most is yourself. Perhaps you have special feelings for me, but that’s all there is."

"No, it’s not like that. How can you know we can’t be together without trying? You can mercilessly reject me, but how can you stop or deny my feelings?" Tears welled up in Han Caicai’s eyes, tinged with red.

"Because I clearly know what kind of person suits me. Han Caicai, don’t you realize that your ’liking’ has become an obstacle to me? You should know that for anything blocking my path, I will mercilessly eliminate it." Mu Qingge calmly watched him as she spoke.

Han Caicai finally calmed down.

He looked at Mu Qingge and, after a long time, shook his head with a bitter smile, "You truly are a ruthless woman. I understand now; I’ll manage myself and won’t repeat the mistake. But I’ll say it again, I’m waiting for you; as long as you haven’t married, I won’t give up."

After saying that, Han Caicai turned and left.

His departing figure appeared extremely forlorn, so fragile it seemed a breeze could topple it.