The Guiding Light, the Scripture Pavilion, the Moon Well, and the towering Arrow Tower standing in town with its intimidating presence—all of it far surpassed what anyone had ever known. The shock it brought was easy to imagine. If they hadn't been cultivators who had already accepted the fusion of the myriad worlds into the current Eternal Continent, seeing such revolutionary sights would truly make one feel as if they had stepped into a celestial realm.
Compared to Xuanyang Town, White Poplar Village was simply insignificant.
In terms of strength and every other aspect, there was no comparison whatsoever.
"I really can't imagine how Xuanyang Town was established. To achieve this level in such a short time... it's simply unbelievable," Bai Lang muttered in awe.
At that moment, Feng Yumo stepped into the plaza, addressing the nearby townsfolk:"Everyone, these are fellow human brothers who hurried here from White Poplar Village. Tonight, they will be staying with us. Please take good care of our guests. I must return to the city walls for patrol. Thank you all for your help."
Upon hearing this, the surrounding townsfolk's eyes lit up, their faces blooming with welcoming smiles.
"So they're brothers from White Poplar Village! Come, come! We've got steaming bowls of white rice ready! If you've come here, you are honored guests of Xuanyang Town. If enemies come, we draw our blades and spears; if guests come, we offer our best dishes and hot meals!"
A nearby chef immediately called out cheerfully, leading Bai Lang and the others to an open space where they set up large cauldrons to prepare a feast.
"Other villages really did make it here... Looks like humanity won't be wiped out after all! Xuanyang Town won't be alone in this world anymore. Though, judging by their appearance, life must have been tough for them," someone commented quietly.
"Indeed. Compared to the hardships outside, we have it a thousand times better here. Without our Town Lord, who knows where we'd be now."
"Come, brothers from White Poplar Village! Have a bowl of hot fish soup first—this was made from piranha, full of nourishing energy that can strengthen the body and boost your cultivation progress!"
"Don't be shy! In our town, food is abundant. You won't have to worry about going hungry here."
Warm smiles and hearty welcomes spread throughout the plaza. It didn't take long for the newcomers to blend in naturally.
Curious about life outside the town, many locals began asking questions, and after learning about the hardships faced by White Poplar Village, they couldn't help but feel even more grateful for their own lives. Their recognition of Xuanyang Town deepened immensely.
Now, even if someone tried to drive them away, they wouldn't leave.If they were to die, they would die here in Xuanyang Town.This was their home, the place where they would marry, raise families, and lay down roots.
—
Meanwhile, inside the Town Hall.
Yi Tianxing sat at the head of the hall.On either side were key figures like Huang Chengyan, Master Lu, Hu Bin, the Yang family, Xue Jin, Jia Yucun, Wang Fengshan, Zhang Yue, and others—all the backbone of Xuanyang Town.
The arrival of White Poplar Village had already been reported at the first opportunity.
Yi Tianxing nodded silently to himself.White Poplar Village was the first to arrive, but it would certainly not be the last. It was a sign: a wave of incoming villages was about to begin.
"Zhang Yue," Yi Tianxing said, "up until now, the town only consisted of our own people. But with more and more outsiders arriving, maintaining public order inside the town becomes the top priority. The Military Cabinet is responsible for external threats, but within the town, keeping peace falls to your Six Gates Department.No matter what, there must be no major disturbances. Any disputes must be immediately handled—especially in the newly established marketplace. Stability there is crucial."
Hearing this, Zhang Yue's heart trembled with excitement. He fully understood Yi Tianxing's meaning—this was a great responsibility, and also a huge opportunity.
He had been feeling stifled these past days.Other departments had plenty of work: the Heavenly Works Pavilion was busy building and inventing, the Gourmet Palace handled all meals and even crafted fine dishes for the Lord himself, the Military Cabinet was hunting beasts and defending the town, the Heavenly Records Hall was registering households, and even the Merit Hall was recording contributions. Only the Six Gates Department had nothing to do! Everyone in town was so hardworking and focused on cultivation or farming that no one caused trouble. Zhang Yue had practically been reduced to swatting flies out of boredom!
But now—finally—a chance to prove their worth had come.
"Please rest assured, my Lord," Zhang Yue said firmly, "we've already recruited many former constables and experienced personnel. Now everyone is cultivating, and they've all grown stronger. No matter how many villages arrive, my Six Gates Department can guarantee the peace of the town, especially in the marketplace!"
Yi Tianxing nodded approvingly."Good. Make sure to station enough men in the market. Absolutely no intimidation or coercion will be tolerated."
At this moment, Xue Jin stepped forward and suggested,"My Lord, since the market is opening soon, and Eternal Coins will be issued, I propose setting up a currency exchange station there, like a money house. We can openly list the prices of goods. If outsiders bring rare resources or specialties, we should buy them with Eternal Coins, thus spreading the coins among the villages.Once they start using Eternal Coins, they'll naturally accept it for all transactions."
His eyes gleamed with shrewdness as he added,"But to ensure public trust, we must assess goods fairly. If we exploit them—say, buying high-grade spirit herbs for just a single coin—our reputation will suffer. People will lose faith in Eternal Coins, and the market will collapse."
This was similar to the modern world: if currency and prices became unstable, society would fall into chaos.
Yi Tianxing nodded."Tomorrow, I'll personally go to the marketplace. When villages bring in their treasures, I'll assess their value myself and set the exchange rates. Prices may fluctuate slightly, but there must be no wild swings. Stability is key."
The success of the first day would be critical. Once people got used to it, human nature's inertia would ensure Eternal Coins gained widespread acceptance.
"I will forge another batch of Eternal Coins tonight to ensure tomorrow's marketplace runs smoothly," Yi Tianxing concluded.
Eternal Coins weren't like paper money that could be printed infinitely; each coin required willing force pearls and spirit crystals to forge. While crystals were easy to find, willing force pearls were rare and precious.Fortunately, thanks to the Money Tree, some pearls had already been gathered, allowing for another minting session.
—
Meanwhile, as Yi Tianxing and his core team meticulously planned the town's future, village after village was arriving at Xuanyang Town.
In the dark of night, the Guiding Light shone like a miniature sun, making Xuanyang Town visible from far away.
Green Willow Village, Ancient Origin Village, Flying Swallow Village, Great Blue Village, Twin Trees Village, Waterside Village...
Teams big and small poured in—some with hundreds of survivors, others with just dozens. Their journeys varied: some had suffered brutal attacks from beasts, arriving battered and broken; others had been luckier, reaching the town relatively intact.
The Six Gates Department had fully taken over the reception duties, leading villagers into the heart of the town.
The sights of Xuanyang Town left every newcomer stunned.Any dark thoughts they might have harbored vanished immediately, replaced by a deep and abiding reverence for Xuanyang Town's power.
Faced with overwhelming strength, obedience was the only choice.
And the warm reception—the steaming white rice, fragrant fish soup, fresh vegetables, and succulent beast meat—made many villagers weep inside.
Heavens knew how long it had been since they last tasted fresh vegetables or had a hot meal! The rice was fragrant and sweet, even imbued with faint spiritual energy. Every bite made them cling tighter to their bowls, reluctant to let go.