Chapter 449 - 444: A Special Dharma Aspect

Du Youqian practically "fled" from Huailai City.

Of course, he had always planned to flee Huailai City, but the original plan was for it to be an act.

He wanted to make the escape look tense, even terrifying, to let the Artisans know that he had paid a price to get them away.

But when it came down to it, Du Youqian was genuinely fleeing for his life.

His Divine Sense was slightly inferior to Ye Rui Master’s, but not to the point where he could be completely overwhelmed or misled.

He had clearly and unmistakably sensed Ye Rui Master’s killing intent.

Du Youqian wasn’t surprised by this. ’Just because I called her "sister" a couple of times, and she called me "brother," doesn’t mean we have some deep sibling bond.’

’Remember this!’

’In the Demon Sect, "brothers" and "sisters" are the kind of people who wish they could drink each other’s blood and eat each other’s flesh.’

’If they weren’t trying to kill each other, who would be so disgustingly chummy, calling each other brother and sister!’

So, the moment he detected Ye Rui Master’s killing intent, Du Youqian stopped waiting.

’If not now, then when!’

Fortunately, Ye Rui Master still had her reservations.

She didn’t actually hunt him down, just put on a show of giving chase.

Du Youqian led a massive procession of over three thousand Tier Two or higher Artisans, along with a few young, highly talented Artisans who were only at Tier One.

On the journey back, they encountered some turmoil and a few battles.

They lost some people, and even some of the Long-tailed Golden Chickens were killed or injured.

But in the end, the vast convoy returned safely to Ruihan City.

Not everyone made it back safely, but most did.

In this era, that alone was a remarkable achievement.

Without a doubt, the returning caravan received a hero’s welcome.

And the prestige of Ancestor Sui Xiao rose to a new level.

The wealth brought back by the caravan might not elevate Ruihan City to the next level overnight.

However, the new trade route, if properly operated and maintained, would allow Ruihan City to develop rapidly in the foreseeable future.

The caravan began to sell the rare and exotic goods procured from the vast region west of the Endless Desert Sea.

Meanwhile, Du Youqian was busy helping the three thousand-plus Artisans get settled.

Although most of the Artisans had agreed to stay out of respect for him, Du Youqian knew that some would only wait and see for a few years, or perhaps just stay for a few short months.

What he had to do was get Ruihan City’s administrators to quickly come up with a comprehensive plan to entice these Artisans to stay.

The administration did not disappoint Du Youqian.

The final plan they presented seemed familiar to Du Youqian—centralizing the procurement of raw materials to lower costs and selling them to the Artisans below market price.

Organizing auctions and merchant guilds to help the Artisans sell their products and recoup their funds more quickly.

And helping Artisans obtain High Tier Inheritances.

Uh, more than half of these policies were remarkably similar to those of Huailai City.

The only difference was that in Huailai City, these policies were mandatory, whereas in Ruihan City, Artisans could voluntarily sign up for them.

No one likes being forced to do something, even if they know it’s for their own good.

Aside from the Artisans, Du Youqian’s biggest concern was the matter of Dali City.

However, in the few short years that had passed, the situation in Dali City hadn’t changed much. It wasn’t yet the right time for him to make his move.

After handling these affairs and sending Jade Slips to his friends to stay in touch and maintain their relationships, Du Youqian entered secluded cultivation.

Even on the road these past few years, he had practiced diligently without pause, and his Cultivation had been steadily increasing.

Not long after entering seclusion, just before his one-hundredth birthday, Du Youqian smoothly advanced his Cultivation to the Golden Core Perfection stage.

Du Youqian spent no time at all adjusting his body and mind or sorting out his Magical Power.

Having successfully undergone Nascent Soul Formation in his previous life, he would face no obstacles at this stage in his current one.

He needed no Nascent Soul Pill, no Nascent Soul Spiritual Object, nor any life-saving treasures.

Thus, without leaving seclusion, Du Youqian began his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.

When the celestial phenomenon accompanying Nascent Soul Formation enveloped the sky above Ruihan City, the entire city was stunned. This was followed by the elation of the Sui Family and the feigned congratulations but inner despair of the other three major families.

Du Youqian’s friends, upon hearing that he was attempting Nascent Soul Formation, also turned their gazes toward him with anticipation and focus.

Kai Feng Master, who was closest with Du Youqian, even came to Ruihan City personally, prepared to act as his Guardian.

On this day, the colorful clouds that had stretched for dozens of miles above Ruihan City suddenly dissipated.

Just as the hearts of the Sui family members leaped into their throats, an immense phantom, a thousand feet tall, suddenly appeared.

Upon closer inspection, the phantom resembled a colossal, crimson serpent with a human face. Its enormous golden eyes had vertical pupils.

As the phantom appeared, wind and rain began to rage. When the phantom slowly closed its vertical eyes, the surroundings instantly plunged into darkness as if night had fallen.

"What a magnificent manifestation of Heaven and Earth! Congratulations, Sui Xiao, on your Pill Shattering Infant Birth and attaining Longevity and Vision!" Kai Feng Master announced in a clear voice.

Not many Nascent Soul Cultivators comprehended the Heaven and Earth Divine Abilities immediately upon Nascent Soul Formation; those who did were typically peerless prodigies.

It was possible for those with lesser talent to only comprehend Heaven and Earth upon reaching the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, or even the Nascent Soul Late Stage.

Then there were those like Wen Wuxin, a particularly subpar Nascent Soul, who hadn’t comprehended the Heaven and Earth Divine Abilities even at the Late Stage.

The Heaven and Earth Divine Abilities were the external manifestation of a Cultivator’s entire Cultivation. They were heavily related to the Cultivation Technique a Cultivator practiced. However, even among Cultivators using the same technique, their Dharma Aspects would have subtle differences, as no two people ever have an identical understanding of a Cultivation Technique.

Kai Feng Master squinted, studying Du Youqian’s Dharma Aspect. He had a feeling that Du Youqian’s Heaven and Earth Divine Abilities held a special quality that set them apart from the mundane.

But without engaging in Magical Combat, the true subtleties of the Dharma Aspect could not be fully displayed.

Several days later, the massive Dharma Aspect was finally withdrawn.

Two more days passed before Du Youqian appeared before Kai Feng Master, brimming with energy.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for acting as my Guardian!"

"It was a small matter, not worth mentioning. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist. Although I always knew this day would come, your rapid advancement still took me by surprise. According to your clansmen, you just had your one-hundredth birthday three months ago!" Kai Feng Master said with great emotion.

Du Youqian laughed. "Kai Feng, let’s not just flatter each other. Look at you, you’re about to reach the Nascent Soul Middle Stage yourself!"

Kai Feng Master gave a modest smile.

He also possessed a Celestial Spirit Root. Although his Cultivation speed was slightly slower than Du Youqian’s, he was still a once-in-a-century genius who was long accustomed to praise and had absolute confidence in himself.

Therefore, while he was amazed by Du Youqian’s Cultivation speed, he by no means thought himself inferior.

"Sui Xiao, what are your plans now?"

Du Youqian just smiled. "Consolidate my Cultivation, and then enjoy the next thousand-plus years of my life."

"Hahaha! You’re not being honest, my friend!" Kai Feng Master laughed, pointing at Du Youqian’s nose. "Let me guess. Back then, you deliberately made Master Changfu lose face. I didn’t understand it at the time; I just thought you’d picked him at random. Later, I noticed you were keeping a close eye on Dali City and realized it was one of your strategic moves. Now that you’ve broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, you can intervene in Dali City’s affairs directly. I’d wager Dali City is about to change hands, right?"

Du Youqian just smiled, neither confirming nor denying it.

He hadn’t intervened in Dali City before because the time wasn’t ripe.

But now, he was a Nascent Soul. He could simply steamroll his way through.

’The time isn’t ripe? Then I’ll force it to be!’

He was determined to take Dali City.

’Of course, Master Changfu is sure to stand in my way.’

’But would he be afraid?’

’Back when he was in the Golden Core Late Stage, he could already defeat Master Changfu.’

’And now, if Master Changfu still dared to stand before him, the Immortal City Alliance would be losing a Nascent Soul Master with exceptional Magical Combat abilities.’

Kai Feng Master was in no hurry to leave Ruihan City. Instead, he planned to stay until Du Youqian held his Nascent Soul Ceremony to save himself another trip.

After Du Youqian emerged from his seclusion, the happiest people, aside from the Sui family, were the Artisans the caravan had brought back.

Although the Artisans had decided to stay, the lack of a Nascent Soul in the Immortal City left them feeling a bit insecure.

But now that Du Youqian had become a Nascent Soul—and such a young one at that—he could protect the city for over a thousand years to come.

For Artisans, nothing was more important than stability.

They couldn’t help but feel relieved that they had made the right choice.

Furthermore, with Du Youqian’s successful Nascent Soul Formation, Ruihan City was now a Second-class Immortal City in truth, not just in name. The next step would surely be to expand the city and increase its population until it became a First-class Immortal City with tens of millions of inhabitants.

In this process, they, the Artisans, would naturally get more business and earn more Spiritual Jade.

This would be a period of rapid development for the Immortal City, and also a period of rapid advancement in both skill and Cultivation for them, the Artisans.