Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 201 truly shows deep affection.

Fengdu City changes its appearance almost every few days.

Chen Ye had been in seclusion for over a month and hadn't left the Yellow Springs Palace. Now, walking through the city, he almost didn't recognize himself anymore.

The area on both sides of the avenue was originally empty wasteland, but now there are some scattered buildings.

Although it looks simple, it has gained a lot of popularity.

With the migration of tribes from the northern frontier and the arrival of merchants from the Central Plains, the population of Fengdu City is about to exceed one thousand.

However, the people of northern Xinjiang are still used to living in tents. The shops on both sides of the street are all opened by people from the Central Plains. I heard that some of them migrated from Luoyan Town.

At first, it was just some traveling merchants who saw the business opportunities in Fengdu City, so they left some of their employees here to open shops and collect furs from the northern frontier.

Then, more and more of the workers' families arrived, and the streets began to fill with the sounds of children playing and women chatting... finally, there was a touch of everyday life in the streets.

At first, many people from the Central Plains found it hard to accept the idea that humans and ghosts lived together in Fengdu City.

However, Fengdu City hardly collects any taxes, and its towering walls give people a sense of security, which naturally leads some to take the risk.

When I arrived, I discovered that you can actually see ghosts here, but not many, and they don't seem to be very scary.

People from the northern frontier and those from the Central Plains were treated equally in Fengdu City, and there was no exploitation of them.

You can receive goods without paying taxes, and you're even guaranteed safety—where else can you find such a good deal? Merely encountering a ghost is nothing compared to being poor; the real ghost is the poor one.

As a result, more and more people from the Central Plains came.

Most of the people in the northern frontier are herders who prefer to live in tents and graze their livestock outside the city, while there are more people from the Central Plains inside Fengdu City.

The two tribes lived in relative harmony. Since the herders needed to slaughter sheep every day to refine blood pills, the surplus hides and meat were sold to the people of the Central Plains, which was a decent option.

The process of refining basic beast blood pills is not complicated, and ordinary people can do it after simple training. This industry has long been handed over by Chen Ye to Qiqi Gesang and other loyal and brave warriors from the northern frontier who were among his earliest followers.

However, due to the limited freshness of the beast blood and the shelf life of the pills, the Yellow Spring Sect currently produces only a few dozen beast blood pills per day.

Aside from a small amount supplied to disciples within the sect who needed it or used for research, the vast majority of these pills were actually consumed by Qiqigesang and his Northern Frontier warriors.

They were already physically strong and full of vitality, and their daily diet of beast blood pills containing traces of spiritual energy was subtly changing their physical constitution. Perhaps, before long, some of them would truly break free from the shackles of the mortal world, condense their Qi Sea, and become cultivators.

Once the Qi Sea Blood Bodhi is fully cultivated, coupled with the life-extending effect of the ginseng fruit, the Yellow Spring Sect will be able to cultivate Gang Sha Realm cultivators on a large scale, with virtually no bottlenecks.

This is what it feels like to have accomplished something great.

As Chen Ye walked through Fengdu City with Lingguang Xian, he saw everyone living in peace and prosperity, and the Huangquan Sect thriving. He couldn't stop smiling and felt quite proud.

Lingguangxian followed closely behind Chen Ye, her steps light and silent. She spent little time looking at the novel scenery around her, but more time focusing on the young sect leader's back in front of her.

Lingguang Xian felt that Chen Ye was completely different from the cultivators of the Mirage Sect. They would not even nod and smile at mortals, and even when facing those rogue cultivators, they had an arrogant and domineering attitude.

During the two battles in Hundred Seas Valley, Lingguang Xian had witnessed too many Mirage Sect cultivators looking down on all living beings, as if even glancing at these rogue cultivators would taint her eyes.

Since Chen Ye, as the sect leader of the Yellow Springs Sect, is so benevolent to mortals, he should also be able to protect the Mirage Demon Clan. Lingguang Xian felt that abandoning her physical body to join the Yellow Springs Sect was the right choice she had ever made.

Before they knew it, the two had climbed the majestic walls of Fengdu.

Looking out from this vantage point, one can see the outline of a city taking shape at one's feet, and in the distance, an endless expanse of lush green grassland stretches to the horizon like a giant green velvet carpet.

The scattered flocks of sheep, like pearls, moved leisurely to the calls of the shepherds.

Gazing at this magnificent and vibrant scene, even Lingguangxian, who was accustomed to the vastness of the East China Sea, couldn't help but exclaim in heartfelt admiration: "What a beautiful view! It is indeed a completely different landscape compared to the sea."

“Yes.” Chen Ye also stood by the railing, gazing into the distance with a hint of longing in his eyes. “This world is so vast, it’s not just about the sea and grasslands. There are also snow-capped mountains and deserts… I have dreamed countless times that one day, when I have achieved success in my cultivation, I will ride the wind on my sword and travel all over the world. Only then will my life be worthwhile.”

Upon hearing this, Lingguang Xian asked in confusion, "Sect Master, you are now at the Tongxuan Realm, so where can't you go? Why do you need to wait any longer?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye looked at Lingguang Xian's face, which was exactly the same as Su Chunyi's, and felt a moment of disorientation.

He had asked Su Chunyi this question before: a sword cultivator in the Tongxuan Realm can fly on a sword and travel a thousand miles a day. Where can't they go?
Su Chunyi, however, said that the faster one's cultivation progresses, the busier one becomes, and he is busy with cultivation all day long, with no time to go out and play.

Only cultivators who see no future will stop and spend the rest of their lives traveling all over this beautiful land.

But what if one makes continuous and vigorous progress?

Like Zhang Qi, who cultivated all the way to the Dao Integration Realm and became the best in the world, yet could only struggle against the power of ascension by sacrificing his lifespan. Did he ever think about taking some time to travel around, but couldn't seem to stop?

Chen Ye's cultivation to the Profound Realm in just one year is astonishing to all cultivators in the world. Despite his rapid progress, he is still so busy that he has little free time.

Seeing Chen Ye's unusual expression, Ling Guangxian asked nervously, "Sect Master, did I say something wrong?"

Chen Ye shook his head and said, "Of course not, it's just that I remembered an old friend. Never mind, we agreed to go on an outing today, so let's not think about these things. I'll introduce you to some guest elders of the Yellow Springs Sect."

If we're talking about scenery in Fengdu City, the only thing worth seeing is something new and interesting. The only decent place to visit is the flower garden that Changshou created.

Compared to Chen Ye, the sect leader who was always busy, Chang Shou lived a much more comfortable life, spending his days drinking tea and admiring flowers in his garden. Since he was aiming to break through to the Profound Realm, meditation and Qi cultivation were useless; he might as well do as he pleased, hoping that a chance encounter would lead to his breakthrough.

Chen Ye then led Lingguang Xian towards Changshou's flower garden to see if they could get a cup of flower tea.

As Chen Ye was describing the scenery along the way to Lingguang Xian, he suddenly saw an acquaintance and called out loudly, "Miss Xiyue!"

Xi Yue, who was strolling along the road, turned around and saw Chen Ye and Ling Guangxian standing at the intersection. She quickly walked over and bowed.

After exchanging a few polite words, Xi Yue glanced cautiously at Ling Guang Xian, thinking that the rumors about the Yellow Spring Sect Master and Su Chunyi of the Qinghe Sword Sect were indeed true, as they could be seen together in Fengdu City.

Xi Yue felt that the two people in front of her were a perfect match, and they were pleasing to the eye. She couldn't help but smile.

Chen Ye was surprised to see Xi Yue in Fengdu City, so he asked, "When did Miss Xi Yue arrive?"

Xi Yue then came to her senses and replied, "I have been here for some time. Sister Tuo Ya Li'er invited me to join the Yellow Springs Sect. I had long wanted to become a disciple of the sect leader, but unfortunately, the sect leader has been in seclusion. So I have temporarily settled in Fengdu City."

"It's because I've been in seclusion for too long, and I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Xi Yue quickly replied, "Not at all, Sect Master is very busy. It was I who disturbed you."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but look back and forth between Chen Ye and Lingguang Xian. They were a perfect match no matter how you looked at them. This must be what they called a divine couple.

Lingguangxian misunderstood Xiyue's gaze and asked in confusion, "Miss, you've been looking at me. Are you blaming me for keeping you waiting for a month while the sect leader and I were in seclusion? If so, then I apologize to you."

Lingguang Xian wasn't very familiar with these social customs, but the Yellow Springs Sect was much better than she had expected. Chen Ye was a rare gentleman, and she didn't want any conflicts with the other disciples of the sect. She just wanted Xi Yue not to blame her.

Xi Yue quickly said, "Miss Su, you've misunderstood. I didn't mean to blame you at all. I just... I just..."

Xi Yue's eyes widened in disbelief. The sect leader had been in seclusion for a month, and this Miss Su had spent the entire month with him?!
Doesn't the Qinghe Sword Sect have any objections?
Or has the relationship between these two reached this point?

Seeing that the misunderstanding had gotten out of hand, Chen Ye quickly explained, "Miss Xiyue, please don't misunderstand. This is not Miss Su Chunyi from the Qinghe Sword Sect. She is... a guest elder of my Huangquan Sect."

Chen Ye looked at Lingguang Xian, unsure how to introduce him.

His status as a guest elder is fine, but the name Lingguangxian is no longer suitable for use.

Fortunately, the two had already discussed this issue over the past month. Lingguang Xian understood Chen Ye's gaze and explained to Xi Yue, "I am Chen Guang, a rogue cultivator in the Tongxuan Realm, who recently joined the Huangquan Sect."

"So it's Elder Chenguang... But your appearance is indeed too similar to that of Miss Su Chunyi from the Qinghe Sword Sect. I made a mistake. Please forgive me, Elder."

Xi Yue still felt strange; how could there be two people in this world who looked so alike?

Upon hearing Xi Yue's apology, Ling Guangxian quickly said, "I won't blame you. It was because I transformed into that Miss Su's appearance that the sect leader said it would look better this way."

Xi Yue's eyes widened again upon hearing this, almost popping out of their sockets.

Chen Ye: ...

No, we can't let these two keep talking, or who knows what rumors will spread.

“Miss Xiyue, I have other matters to attend to today. I will discuss joining the Yellow Springs Sect with you tomorrow.”

After saying this, Chen Ye quickly gestured to Ling Guangxian with his eyes, and then hurriedly left.

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Xi Yue couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Does the sect leader have to transform others into Miss Su's likeness even during secluded cultivation? He really is..."

After thinking for a long time, Xi Yue still didn't know how to describe it.

Does the Qinghe Sword Sect forbid the two of them from being together, so the sect leader used this method to relieve the pain of longing?

This is probably, perhaps, also a manifestation of deep affection?
(End of this chapter)