Chapter 112: The Completion of White Cloud City
While Neptune's clone was undergoing the Sea God's trials on Sea God Island, his true body, Ye Cheng, had been overseeing the construction of White Cloud City, which was now progressing steadily.
As expected of the Yu Clan, renowned experts in architecture and construction, they personally surveyed the site of Old White Cloud City to gather precise data. Within three days, they had already completed the city's new design plans and delivered them to Ye Cheng.
After reviewing the plans, Ye Cheng was quite satisfied.
The only issue was that the new White Cloud City was much larger than the old one, meaning that the already cleared land needed to be expanded even further.
This, however, was no challenge for him.
Ye Cheng personally arrived at the site, summoned the Feihong Sword, and with just a few sweeps of sword energy, he leveled entire mountain peaks.
He then used the earth and stone debris to flatten uneven terrain, effectively tripling the city's original size.
Additionally, he opened several new roads, ensuring that White Cloud City would have better access and communication with other cities in the future.
With the foundation set, the Yu Clan officially began construction.
Of course, the other two clans were not idle either.
While they lacked financial resources, as soul masters, they still contributed physical labor, such as lifting and transporting heavy materials.
However, a city of this scale was far beyond what the three clans and their thousand strong workforce could handle.
If they relied only on themselves, it would take decades to complete.
So, it was time to mobilize the masses.
The Yu Clan publicly announced Ye Cheng's plans to rebuild White Cloud City, openly recruiting laborers not for wages, but for free meals and lodging.
In exchange, those who participated in the city's construction would be eligible to purchase homes at extremely low prices once the city was completed, becoming official residents.
Most importantly anyone living in White Cloud City would receive protection from its ruler.
As soon as this news spread, it caused an uproar.
Tens of thousands of people flocked to enlist.
In just a short time, over 800,000 able bodied workers were recruited, with more arriving daily from surrounding regions.
Why?
It wasn't just about cheap housing.
The real reason was the sense of security Ye Cheng's name carried.
For ordinary civilians, White Cloud City offered the ultimate safety net.
The Harsh Reality of the Soul Master World
In a world where soul masters reigned supreme, commoners had no human rights.
Their lives were worthless, treated like disposable insects.
Some soul masters committed arson, murder, and robbery without consequence so long as they didn't provoke nobility and didn't engage in mass slaughter, no one would interfere.
The empires preached that "all are citizens of the empire," but in reality, nobles only saw commoners as livestock to be used and discarded at will.
Soul masters were utterly unchecked.
There were cases where entire families were wiped out simply because two soul masters happened to fight nearby.
A random energy blast could destroy homes, lives, and futures and no one cared.
The authorities turned a blind eye, unwilling to offend the high and mighty soul masters over the deaths of a few worthless peasants.
Such was the twisted reality of this world.
But now
As long as they joined White Cloud City…
As long as they lived within its walls
They would never again have to fear becoming collateral damage in some soul master's duel.
No soul master would dare to cause trouble in a city ruled by an Ultimate Douluo.
This was why so many civilians desperately sought to become part of White Cloud City.
Once the workforce had reached its limit, Niu Gao closed recruitment.
Those who arrived too late could only regret their hesitation.
But aside from the laborers, numerous wealthy merchants, minor clans, and small factions also arrived, seeking to settle in White Cloud City.
Ye Cheng welcomed them all.
After all, a city couldn't function with just residents.
It needed merchants, craftsmen, manufacturers, and people from various trades to create a sustainable economy.
These businessmen and minor factions would be essential to White Cloud City's growth.
Unlike the laborers, who would receive low cost housing, these newcomers were expected to invest and develop their own properties forming the commercial backbone of the city.
Ye Cheng, as City Lord, only needed to establish the overall framework.
Everything else trade, industry, and governance would be handled by his subordinates.
The Grand Completion of White Cloud City
With 800,000 laborers working day and night
Countless soul masters assisting with construction magic
And massive amounts of money being poured into the project
After six months, White Cloud City was finally completed!
The city's layout was structured as follows:
The Core Zone (City Lord's Palace The Forbidden City):
This was Ye Cheng's personal domain, the true heart of White Cloud City akin to an imperial palace.The Inner District:
Reserved for clans, factions, and influential figures who had pledged loyalty to the City Lord.The Outer District:
Home to ordinary residents, as well as shops, trade centers, and marketplaces.
A clear hierarchy was established defining status and privilege within the city.
With the city's completion, the 800,000 laborers finally received their promised homes, purchasing affordable properties in the Outer District.
From this moment on, they were no longer wanderers
They were now true citizens of White Cloud City.
A Population Boom
But what Ye Cheng hadn't anticipated was the massive influx of people that followed.
These 800,000 workers weren't alone
They had families.
Parents, siblings, spouses, children…
By the time all their relatives had arrived, White Cloud City's population had surged into the millions!
Even then, the city still felt spacious.
But over time, as even more migrants arrived, the city began to bustle with life.
White Cloud City was on its way to becoming a true metropolis.
Establishing Order
With millions of residents, Ye Cheng could no longer manage the city personally.
His first priority
Establishing a law enforcement system.
He formed the Enforcement Corps
A force dedicated to maintaining order, ensuring that no soul master could abuse their power.
Their duties included:
Preventing soul masters from disrupting city order.Ensuring no one engaged in senseless killings.Suppressing criminal activities and corruption.Keeping ambitious individuals from abusing their positions.
Ye Cheng knew his city didn't have to be perfect
But at the very least, it would not sink into the same corruption as the outside world.
White Cloud City would be different.
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/cortez10