28 Making Tunnels

"Big sister Yueli! You finally arrived!"

"Un! And you had a breakthrough!"

The pair of twins walked over to the recently arrived Chu Yueli who slightly smiled at the pair.

"It appears you two have already adjusted to this place."

"Un! We are trying to help sister Lingxi with her duties as a maid! It's fun, and we make Big Brother happy."

Chu Yueli looked at the maid behind the pair, she looked quite emotionally drained. 

"My thanks for helping these two. They can be a handful sometimes."

"We are not! We help Big Brother!"

"Yes! He loves us!"

"Yes! We are like his hug pillows."

The pair proudly said with a raised chin. It was as if they were proud of what they were doing.

The Younger Chu simply sighed when she heard that. Well, as long as they are content she doesn't care. She has her objectives.

She needs to become useful to Xiao Long. And so far she has no idea what to do. 

He has a small army of maids and a beautiful wife. On top of that her sister is here as well, and there is not much she can offer since their cultivation is at a similar level.

"Lingxue, maybe you have some ideas about what I can do to make myself look useful to Young Master Xiao?" 

The younger Chu asked with an uncertain tone.

This made Mu Lingxue think for a moment.

"We could try the Talent Orb, Master. It's a new artefact made by Master Long, its use is to figure out clansmen's true talents. 

If we figure out your true talent master can focus on improving, this way you might get his attention." 

Her words made her uncertainty disappear and she looked more confident.

"Very well, where should I find this Talent Orb?"

"Follow me."

After seeing the twins and wishing good luck to Xiao Lingxi the pair went to Talent Awakening grounds. 

The orb was placed in a small shrine-like building, guarded by several Xiao guards. When they saw the Frozen Cloud fairies. They stiffened for a second.

"Master Chu just joined Young Master's service, we need to check her talent to see how useful she could be to Young Master Xiao." Mu Lingxue said with an ordering tone.

"Very well, step inside, channel some Profound Energy it will reveal what is your true talent."

Chu Yueli nodded and walked inside the small shrine, her eyes were on this orb of crystal glass, she could see that it was layered somehow. 

So when she channelled her Profound energy the layers started to light up. Until she saw a single letter glow. 

"...Sword, your talent is swordsmanship." Mu Lingxue said with a slightly surprised tone.

"...I see…it makes sense… I prefer a sword, while my sister prefers to use a short sword made from Ice Profound Energy." The Younger Chu said with a contemplated look.

Eventually, she asked the younger Fairy.

"...Is this good?"

"...In a way, the Young Master took me because of my Swordsmanship. He wants some 'battle maids' as he calls them."

Her explanation made the more mature fairy slightly nod. Sounds like he wants varieties.

"How many of these 'battle maids' does he have?"

"Only me as of now." 

"I see… maybe this is what I need."

~~~~~Xiao Long~~~~~~

After the conversation with Chu Yueli, Chu Yuechan's aura was slightly chaotic. 

She was angry.

"...it appears you didn't like what Chu Yueli said."

"..."

"Come now. There is no need for silent treatment."

"...I don't like what she said."

"Hmm, any sort of power has a prize. Even your precious Frozen Heart arts." I said thoughtfully, I understood what was going on in Chu Yuechan's head. At least when emotions are not involved she is easy to read. 

"What does Frozen Heart arts have to do with anything?" She asked with a confused look.

"Your reckless cultivation of this art made you extremely vulnerable to emotional intoxication. 

It's most likely when I used my Purifying energy on her to remove the ice she gathered, I opened a few profound entrances. 

Combined with a positive feeling this energy has her Frozen Heart shattered from this excitement. 

Mix all these things your little sister has no idea how to handle emotions because your Frozen Cloud never touched such a subject."

"...Are you saying she is intoxicated with emotions she can't understand?" Chu Yuechan said with a confused frown.

"Even now you don't understand that you are in your intoxication," I said with an amused tone.

"..."

"You didn't realise? There is a difference between logical thinking and emotional thinking. If you were logical you would have weighed the pros and cons of what your Mistress decided.

"But instead, you went with emotional thinking and discarded what your Palace would get and what they would lose instead you have chosen disobedience for some reason.

"Tell me what a logical fairy who only cares about Profound strength would think?" 

I do love the look on her face. Her eyes were even trembling as she didn't know what to say.

"...I…"

"It's fine. We are done here anyway. The sun is setting and we will return to work tomorrow."

"...Understood… then I will take my leave."

"Very well."

That moment Chu Yuechan left with a burst of speed. 

Messing with that beauty sure is fun. I wonder how she will behave after processing this.

~~~~~~Next Day~~~~~~

My gaze went to the resting form of Chu Yueli. The beauty sure is dutiful just like her adopted mother. 

She took the challenge of helping me reach [Emperor Profound] seriously.

Sadly for her, it's not an easy thing to do. While we practised dual cultivation the whole night, the amount of energy isn't enough to reach the thrones.

We will get there. We have another night today and another night tomorrow…even more if need be.

For now, I started to refine that Vital Yin I got from Chu Yueli.

My cultivation surged towards [Ninth of Sky Profound] passing it and then rushing towards the next stage, however, it stopped just around the corner. 

*Sigh*

'This Sky Profound realm is quite annoying. Pretty sure Throne will be even more so.'

After finishing with the stabilisation of the cultivation base I slowly got up from my bed. 

Stretching out for a bit. 

Once that was done I went to get a quick shower. One of the things I added to this place is showers. Yes, that stuff is refreshing even if I don't need to shower, I still do, it wakes me up.

The style is quite easy. Just put a water tank on top of the house and you will have a shower. It's not rocket science. 

But yeah, after that I dressed up and went to the dining room. It was time to get something to eat, even if I don't need to. I prefer having something in my stomach…

"Young Master, your breakfast is coming in a few minutes." 

I nodded at the maid before returning to think about the array deployment and the artefacts.

Mentally I opened the Profound Arts window.

[Array Creation] (6/10) {12.43%}

[Basic Artefact Creation] (1/10) {45.71%}

The principle is that a mix of large amounts of arrays put in a single place forms an artefact. 

Though the issue with this is those materials where the arrays are made have to be solid, this is where I am thinking of learning Blacksmithing. 

Or it's more like Metal tempering since I don't need to smack with a hammer to get the form I want. Kinda pointless when you can manipulate fire as I do. Eventually heated-up metal will fall under my control because of the Fire Profound Energy infusion.

'Maybe it will fall under Earth Profound Energy? Kinda curious…'

A few moments later the food was brought to me. I proceeded to eat.

After my breakfast, I went outside, and I was quickly joined by Mu Lingxue and Chu Yuechan. Once again, the older Chu's aura was chaotic.

I am quite certain she sensed what I did to her younger sister…

"Let's go. Since I learned about Earth Profound Energy I should finish with the tunnels today."

"Understood."

"..."

We flew over to where the digging site is.

It's just next to where the Mountain begins. It's a straight line down.

I plan on making it so that it stretches out to all corners of the floating island. This will balance out all the site for the Profound Energy distribution.

The example of this I have is the Supreme Ocean Palace's floating island.

The difference with that place is that it doesn't move.

Mine will, so there is a need for a few more arrays.

Once I was back at my work site, I proceeded to make a tunnel to the edge of the city.

It's kinda easy with Earth Profound Energy. I'm like the Avatar. I just arm Thrust and the tunnel is made. Though that excess dirt did pop up quite a distance away from the city.

Not that I care about that…

Stretching out these tunnels through the whole city and then meeting up with the iron rods I left around the perimeter.

The area I am going to lift is even bigger where my Profound Gathering Array is laid down.

I am using a portion of it to help me mark the boundaries.

Since I know one side I can use this to mark others to make a perfect circle and with the core of the circle, the centre being the mountain. 

Once I reached the edge I used the Earth Profound energy to find the mountain and proceeded to make the tunnel towards that area.

It took me just a few minutes as the hole itself I dug up was quite close to the mountain.

When I arrived directly under the mountain, I proceeded to expand, from a simple tunnel it became as big as a hall. 

To keep it more solid I made columns of solidified Earth Profound Energy and slapped a few Arrays drawn with Profound Beast blood. 

Once the hall was finished I proceeded to make tunnels Northwards, Eastwards and lastly Westwards. As the city is built Southwards from the mountain.

With this, I marked the boundaries of the Floating Island. 

Now to start making the arrays.

~~~

Chu Yueli woke up around the evening as she was feeling tired. 

She slowly lifted her head and looked around. She realised that she was in the Master's bedroom, with him being long gone. 

Slowly she changed her position into a sitting one.

Her mind quickly wandered to what she did last night. It was embarrassing and quite…lewd? 

Regardless, he asked her to help him reach the Throne realm, and she immediately accepted the proposal.

Only minutes later did she realise what he meant by that. Still, she accepted it anyway. He then proceeded to do things to her.

On top of that, he taught her Dual Cultivation which made her extra elated that she will help him more in future. 

And she will improve her cultivation. This was the best deal she could ever get.

So after circulating her Profound energy for a while she proceeded to refine the Yang energy inside of her. 

The excitement only grew when she felt how swiftly her cultivation was increasing!

It took her several hours to refine that potent Yang but she was done and her cultivation reached [Ninth of Sky Profound].

This was absurd and quite shocking…but then again after thinking for a while, she understood that the young Master most likely got some means to make his Yang very potent. 

After dressing up in her new Xiao clan clothes Chu Yueli was about to leave but the doors opened and Xiao Lingxi with several Phoenix Maids entered the room.

"You are finally up. Young Master has left some pills for you."

The maid handed over three Orange pills.

"To help you keep up he decided to give you some permanent vitality-improving pills."

"..."

This made the Fairy blush like a tomato, does the entire household know that she was knocked out in the middle of the act!?

"Don't look so surprised, Young Master is a Dragon among the men. We once tried triple-team him up. It doesn't work. So don't be embarrassed that much." One of the Phoenix maids said with a dreamy tone. This only made Xiao Lingxi's aura more chaotic. 

"...I understand… these are the Improved vitality pills, won't this impact my Contribution points?"

"No. This is Young Master helping you out."

"...I see…but why not my older sister? She is a Throne."

"Ask him yourself."

"...No… it's fine…"

Chu Yueli quickly changed her mind. She doesn't want him to change his mind either… so she will just remain quiet and help him cultivate.

"Good. Then proceed to recover, Master should return in a few hours."

Xiao Lingxi's words were like a warning. The younger Chu proceeded to sit down on the bed and consume the pills and wait for Xiao Long. 

There is no need for her to go anywhere.

Seeing what Chu Yueli is doing Xiao Lingxi with the Phoenix maids proceeded to clean up the room before their Young Master returns.

At the same time, they all were annoyed for not being strong enough to help with this situation. If they were strong enough they might be the ones who would be replacing Chu Yueli…

Regardless, after finishing the room cleaning they left…

~~~~~~Xiao Long~~~~~~

The restructuring of the clan was on the way. The older members got their talents revealed. While they won't be changing a lot as they are old, we added people who were in their twenties who had talent in arrays and artefact making.

With the older man from the blacksmith shop from the Xiao clan joined. Same with the Chief Doctor Xiao Gu. In other words, we started with the creation of new halls and pavilions. 

As territory has expanded massively with the addition of the mountain. The areas in between the clan and the Mountain will have a multitude of pavilions and halls. 

So with the original three elders, there are five new elders. An Elder for Arrays, Elder for Blacksmith, Elder for Medicine, Elder for Artefacts and lastly Elder for Alchemy.

While 'Elder' sounds important they all are still very green…except for Blacksmith Elder, who is experienced in his work and has a talent for it.

And…Xiao Gu…well…he kinda knows something about medicine? He can heal one's cold… 

Better than having nothing…

I will need to write a few Profound Scrolls to help these people.

Or more like kickstart the process. 

"Since everyone is here, let's start with what the architects got for us."

My Grandfather pulled out a large scroll and spread it out on the table.

Showing how the expanded clan will look like.

From the looks of it… the areas everyone will have will triple at least.

It will be a city inside a city…

The expressions on the elder faces were that of a massive amount of happiness… Being a boss man is something everyone wants to be in the cultivation world.

"Firstly, let's address the point that each hall with similar professions should be close to each other. Medicine Hall will be close to Alchemy Hall, they will be sharing the gardens. 

"Arrays, Blacksmithing and Artefact creation will be close to each other as well. They share the same material usage." As I said, I pointed out how to use space efficiently. After all, we will have limited space. 

"True… then this hall and this one will be Medical and Alchemy halls, in between there will be the gardens, and there will be space to expand."

My grandfather found the location for those two. While the Blacksmith, Array and Artefacts will be close to the main street as well.

Though it will be expanding away from it as well.

After deciding how the clan will look like it was time to reveal the future.

"Now that we have this out of the way time to discuss what I have been doing."

I got the attention of everyone in the Elders Hall.

"I have built tunnels around this whole area." I pointed out on the map, the area of the floating island will be.

"This whole area will become a floating island in a few months."

"..."

"..."

"...Long'er can you repeat that?"

"This area right here, will be a floating island. I will make it into a moving fortress so that we can fly around the whole continent."

"..."

"..."

"This way we will become an autonomous power not answering to anyone…sometimes people won't even find us." 

"...But Long'er…what about the Supreme Ocean Palace?"

"That's the point… the Supreme Ocean Palace is a floating island as well."

"I will be picking up Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace as well."

This made everyone stop in their tracks.

"So, I suggest that everyone start cultivating." As I said everyone seriously nodded.

"Otherwise you won't be able to leave this place until you are [Sky Profound]." 

This made everyone think.

"This is good. We will be able to do something with the excess people trying to join our Clan."

"Yes, and we will be absorbing all the lesser sects and clans in the city who are trying to leech off from the Profound Energy Gathering Array," I said with a frown. Those fuckers are popping up more and more by the day.

"Very well, this is for the best then. Floating Cloud City will become what it's supposed to be in the first place."

"Yes. Now that this is out of the way. I have things to do." 

After the meeting, I went back to my warehouse and proceeded to create the arrays which will lift off the city into the skies.

This needs to be done early as a large amount of Profound Energy needs to be gathered. 

Once in the air we can take over the city and establish ourselves as proper rulers of the city.

Not that it's difficult to do now. But it's better with a limited amount of space.

~~~

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