MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 185
After lunch, Huo Sheng and Velo departed. Huo Sheng needed to oversee the overall situation back at the main camp, while Velo, a level three Physique Realm expert from the Spirit Clan, temporarily served as Huo Sheng's bodyguard.
Having seen them off, Lu Ming skipped his usual afternoon nap. Instead, he led Li Zitong towards the cave at the back of the mountain.
He needed Li Zitong's help to tidy up this former beast lair.
The previous overlord of South Mountain, the exotic beast, had been massive.
This meant the cave entrance was enormous, nearly ten meters high.
As they ventured into the cave, darkness enveloped them. Lu Ming produced a strange, luminous stone that cast a soft glow, illuminating their path.
Li Zitong marveled at the stone. "Brother Lu, this thing is quite impressive. It must be worth a lot, right?"
Zhang Chengcheng chuckled. "Not really. It's just a common item."
In the supernatural world, anything unrelated to supernatural beings was merely a trinket, devoid of true value.
The luminous stone in Lu Ming's hand was one such item.
Holding the glowing stone aloft, they walked deeper into the cave for about a hundred meters. Suddenly, the path opened up, revealing a hidden paradise within the mountain.
The surrounding rock walls glittered with naturally embedded luminous stones, casting a soft, ethereal glow upon the hidden sanctuary. Shafts of sunlight filtered through cracks in the ceiling, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise cool, damp air.
At the heart of the clearing lay a pristine pool, its water rippling and bubbling as if alive.
Li Zitong's eyes widened in amazement. "Brother Lu, this place is incredible!"
Indeed, it was. Lu Ming hadn't expected such a hidden paradise within the beast's lair.
Though not particularly vast, the clearing was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate over a hundred people.
Zhang Chengcheng, eager to commend Lu Ming's judgment, pointed towards the central pool. "This connects to the nearby stream," she observed, "and the water quality is excellent, like a natural spring."
"We'll save a lot of effort fetching water in the future," she added with a smile.
"There's also a flat area on the mountainside outside," Wei Lan chimed in. "Fala said we can plant black rice and vegetables there."
"Brother Lu's idea is to make this cave our new home," Zhang Chengcheng continued, her voice filled with excitement. "We'll build a small village inside. Li Zitong, you're the expert, so we're counting on you to plan it out and build some houses."
Li Zitong nodded, his expression determined. "Leave it to me."
He wasn't a professional house builder, but after extensive experience with earth-element superpowers, he had developed a keen understanding of construction.
Lu Ming's house was his top priority.
However, unlike before, Lu Ming didn't give Li Zitong free rein. This time, he actively participated in the design process, outlining his vision for his future home.
"The area should be about 120 square meters, with two floors above ground and one basement level," Lu Ming instructed.
"The first floor layout should be..."
"The second floor..."
"The basement..."
"The entrance to the basement should be in the first-floor bedroom."
"And the house should have a small courtyard and an outdoor dining area..."
Lu Ming continued detailing his specifications, and Li Zitong listened intently. When Lu Ming finally finished, Li Zitong realized something.
"Brother," he said, a hint of surprise in his voice, "isn't this the layout of your house in Good Hope Village?"
Lu Ming smiled and nodded. "Exactly."
Lu Ming wasn't particularly sentimental, but his old house held a special place in his heart.
Li Zitong had no objections to Lu Ming's requests. Building the house to his specifications wouldn't be difficult.
In fact, Lu Ming's words sparked an idea in Li Zitong's mind.
Looking at the picturesque mountain sanctuary, Li Zitong paused thoughtfully. "Brother," he ventured, "do you think it's possible to make this place resemble Guangping Street?"
Lu Ming clapped his hands in delight. "That sounds fantastic!"
Currently, Li Zitong was already at the Ninth-level of the Mortal Realm, his Earth-element superpower honed to a remarkable degree. With such mastery, constructing buildings was a swift and efficient process.
Once the plan was finalized, Li Zitong wasted no time. In a mere three hours, the entire cave dwelling within the mountain underwent a complete transformation!
The luminous stones embedded in the rock walls, coupled with the sunlight filtering through the cracks, bathed the cave in a warm, inviting glow.
Lu Ming's house, nestled beside the pool, was a perfect replica of his former home, both inside and out.
Outside Lu Ming's abode, a network of pathways crafted by Li Zitong's Earth-Element superpower connected everything. The familiar houses and shops gave Lu Ming the comforting illusion of being back on Guangping Street.
With each glance, Lu Ming's satisfaction grew.
Stepping into his new home, he found the interior sparse, save for a simple stone bed for rest.
Li Zitong, standing beside him, explained, "We'll arrange the furniture when Brother Xin arrives. For now, Brother Lu, please bear with the simplicity."
Zhang Lixin's material manipulation ability made him a natural craftsman.
Lu Ming nodded in understanding. "It's more than enough for now."
That night, Lu Ming slept soundly, the familiar surroundings of his recreated home providing a sense of comfort and security.
The next day, the 143rd day of the Black Mist Calendar, he rose early and resumed his training regimen.
And so, Lu Ming settled into a stable and peaceful life within the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
Day 145 of the Black Mist Calendar
Huo Sheng arrived with his group, including Wang Xiong, Zhang Lixin, Meng Jie, and other elders from Guangping Street.
That day, Zhang Lixin set about crafting furniture from the surrounding trees. By evening, Lu Ming's new home was already 80% reminiscent of his old house.
Wang Xiong also took over the responsibility of overseeing the overall renovations, ensuring Brother Lu had an environment conducive to uninterrupted cultivation.
Day 146 of the Black Mist Calendar
The farmland was prepared, and black rice and vegetables were planted. Wang Xiong led hunting expeditions to ensure a steady food supply.
That evening, Huo Sheng guided the large group of Nanxiang people into the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Their journey was relatively smooth, marking the successful relocation of the Nanxiang community.
From this day forward, the people of Nanxiang would carve out a new life within the embrace of the mountains.
Lu Ming remained indifferent to the change. As long as he had food and shelter while leveling up, he was content.
But some individuals had different ideas about this relocation, ideas that would have significant consequences.
Day 147 of the Black Mist Calendar
Apelo, marching alongside the Giant Clan's Third Legion, reached the vicinity of Bear Mountain.
The campsite was a bustling scene, filled with banners and a sea of giants, each towering four or five meters tall. The air was thick with the smell of roasting meat and the sounds of boisterous laughter.
The Third Legion's destination was the former site of the Undead Clan's Barbarian Tribe in the distance. It had become a battleground between the Insect Clan and the Undead Clan, a clash of titans in the Black Mist Zone.
The Giant Clan's goal was simple and brutal: join the fray, gather more biomass, and trade it with the Mother Tree for more ascension opportunities.
Apelo's objective, however, diverged from the Third Legion's.
In the central tent, he met with the legion's commander.
"Brother," Apelo began, "I'd like to take my people out. The goal is..."
Before Apelo could even utter the fabricated excuse he had prepared, the commander waved him off dismissively.
"Go ahead, go ahead. Brother Apelo, when you're with me, feel free to do as you please. Don't feel constrained!"
Apelo was Hao Lie's sworn brother. Although Hao Lie didn't hold Apelo in high regard, as an outsider, the commander wouldn't dare disrespect him. It would be a direct insult to Hao Lie.
Apelo, a Level One Spirit Realm expert, wasn't particularly remarkable among the Spirit Realm individuals in the army.
Since that was the case, he might as well enjoy some freedom.
Apelo instantly grasped the situation. After thanking the commander profusely, he left the military camp with his people, heading towards Bear Mountain.