There were now over 10,000 suits of plate armor in the realm of Qingming. In the days that followed, after the armament workshop shifted its focus, a massive amount of farming implements and various tools were produced as well, greatly accelerating the pace of the land reclamation, logging, and city construction across the domain.

At long last, the grotto-heaven boys had finished sowing the newly cultivated 100,000 mu of land. As Wei Yuan looked down at the vibrant ground and sensed the sprouting seeds beneath the earth, his heart was filled with a profound sense of peace.

Suddenly, he sensed something: a strange convoy was approaching the domain.

The convoy consisted of over a dozen wagons filled with various goods. However, there were only about a hundred people in the convoy including the drivers and the escorts. The guards were all burly and formidable; none of them were ordinary cultivators.

Several Qingming cultivators rode out on horseback and intercepted the convoy. A middle-aged man stepped out into the open and said, “We are from the Six Realms Merchants’ Association, here specifically to establish trade routes. We would like to request an audience with the Realm Lord.” 

Moments later, the caravan was led to a clearing outside Yong’an City to set up camp, while Wei Yuan and Cui Yu hurried over to meet them.

Both parties took their seats in a makeshift tent. The middle-aged man then summoned two young women to set up a table and prepare...