Chapter 426: Returning to the City

Not only had he obtained a key ingredient for Potion #4, he had even managed to secure one disaster gene fragment and a post-peak-grade soulshard.

One disaster gene fragment was more impactful than ten peak gene fragments, and Zhang Lie could sense his abilities taking a great leap forward. In an instant, his [Ninecarp Transformation] had reached mid-fifth stage.

The next day, Zhang Lie and the rock giant headed back to their city. However, just as they were leaving Mt. Wanren, hundreds of shadows darted out from the mountain, led by the now-golden Yu Huantian.

Zhang Lie asked, "What are all of you doing here?"

All the crag eagles that had followed him were tinged with gold—they were those who had partaken in Zhang Lie's feast the day before.

"We're leaving with you!"

"What?" Zhang Lie seemed a little shocked.

"We can't just eat your food without doing anything, can we? Didn't you say you had a city of your own? I'm sure you're lacking some aerial forces like us."

The rock spirit said, "You intend on returning with us?"

"We ate your meat, so we're your warriors now!"

Zhang Lie's mouth spasmed. "Didn't you already repay me for that?"

"But not for the meat from last night."

"Did your chief and elder agree?"

Yu Huantian nodded. "They agreed and informed us to follow you well."

The other crag eagles added, "They also said we would surely benefit by following you around."

"And my dad told me to follow you and make sure I repent for the offense I've shown you!" Yu Huantian called out.

Zhang Lie laughed. "Very well, then."

There were already three different races living in his city; one more was no big deal.

After consuming the golden rocs' flesh, the crag eagles' latent potential had been unlocked. They would be excellent aerial fighters given their wings, and Zhang Lie was indeed lacking their like.

Seated on the rock giant's shoulder, Zhang Lie and his new retinue spent a month traveling back to the city.

When they saw Zhang Lie with a group of birdmen, the guards patrolling the city wall were no longer surprised. "You've taken in a new tribe, Zhang Lie!"

Zhang Lie clutched his face. "I wasn't expecting to, either."

"I'll inform the two clan leaders immediately, as well as Su Hong and the hunters of Team Zenith!"

Over the two months during which Zhang Lie had been gone, the city had transformed in its entirety. The walls of stone had been rebuilt, and the streets were now completely clean and repaved with stone.

The crag eagles flew overhead, glancing all around them—they had never been in a city before.

"Look, the walls really are made of rock!"

"What's that? How could the rocks be so uniform?"

"Oh, I've seen that! It's like the log cabin the elder lives in!"

Zhang Lie's return quickly spread among the residents of the city. Green trails of light flashed from outside the city as the wood spirits gathered with Su Hong, Team Zenith, and the Yeluo to welcome Zhang Lie's return.

"Welcome back, Zhang Lie!"

Zhang Lie nodded, then jumped off the rock giant. "You've all done very well. In just two months, the city looks as good as new."

Everyone smiled upon receiving Zhang Lie's praise; their hard work hadn't gone unnoticed.

"But there's no need for all this ceremony. Please, feel free to go back to what you were doing before."

The only people that remained were the chief of the Yeluo, Su Hong, the members of Team Zenith, the shaman of the wood spirits, and Chu Feng and Yun Bing.

Zhang Lie instructed, "Sun Mengmeng, could you have a look at what lodgings are available? Let's find a place for the crag eagles behind me to stay."

Yu Huantian shook his head. "No, there's no need. We won't get used to living in enclosed spaces."

Zhang Lie rolled his eyes. "Where do you want to sleep?"

Yu Huantian pointed at the city walls. "Right there is fine."

Zhang Lie frowned. "You want to build nests atop the watchtowers?"

Sun Mengmeng shook her head. "There are only sixteen watchtowers in total. Will the nests be able to accommodate all of you?"

"We can sleep right on the city walls themselves, too."

Su Hong refused. "That would cause significant problems to the defense of our perimeter."

Yu Huantian harrumphed. "With us around, what else do you need for defense? The crag eagles will ensure that no enemy will be able to approach the city walls."

Zhang Lie crossed his arms. "I think you'd better find some other place instead. There are a few hills and mountains nearby."

The shaman of the wood spirits smiled. "Why don't you come live alongside me for a while?"

Yu Huantian peered at her. "Who are you, old fogey?"

The shaman frowned. "I'm the shaman of the wood spirits. Surely you've heard of me?"

"Nope!" Yu Huantian replied.

A crag eagle beside Yu Huantian whispered, "The elder's mentioned them before, I think. They're a race that can nurture the cultivation of greenery and herbs."

"Oh, you mean they're farmers?"

It took all the shaman's patience and good upbringing to not explode. "You may understand it that way. To be more precise, we enhance all manner of life, with a particular emphasis on plant-based lifeforms."

Yu Huantian shrugged. "Are there hills or mountains in your vicinity?"

The shaman shook their head. "We live in a forest."

Yu Huantian shook his head. "We'd better not. The morning dew will dampen our feathers."

"Really? We hosted crag eagles in our forest from time to time while the relationship between our clans was harmonious, and they've never had a problem."

Sun Mengmeng suggested, "Perhaps it would be alright if they were to replace their nesting material every now and then so it doesn't become damp. That's what most birds who live in forests do."

"Actually, there's a better solution," Chu Feng pointed out. "We'll just have the rock spirits build them a small rock forest around."

"Truly?"

The rock spirits could raise spires of rock out of thin air. They wouldn't be as tall as the watchtowers, of course, but they would easily be tall enough to match the height of the city walls.

Zhang Lie turned to the rock giant. "Do you think your tribe can handle this?"

"It shouldn't be a problem. I'll let the others know."

Zhang Lie could hardly have imagined that the two clans, who had long been enemies of each other, would end up living in the same city in peaceful coexistence.

Zhang Lie instructed, "Yu Huantian, why don't you and the other crag eagles go along with the rock giant? See if those accommodations suit you."

After the crag eagles and rock giant left, Zhang Lie said to the others, "Will you show me around? I'd like to see what you've done over the last month."

They walked through the streets. Chu Feng said, "Over this period of time, with the combined effort of the Yeluo and the rock spirits, we were able to repair the city walls and repave the streets."

Zhang Lie nodded. "Very good. Thank you for all your hard work."

They were nearing a crowded part of the city where a market had been set up. There were stalls from the wood spirits, the Yeluo, and the humans, and some rock giants would pass by from time to time.

Zhang Lie seemed rather surprised. "You set up a bazaar too?"