Chapter 196: A Spending Spree, Buying Up Land

After bidding farewell to the Luo family, Qin Xiao brought Yun Man back to the Middle City, as the department managing land sales was located there.

In the past, land outside the Middle City wasn’t worth much. That changed with the arrival of the current Governor-General. Truly a business genius, he took the plains within a hundred-Li radius of Qingzhou City and designated them as the Outer City. As long as one spent Spirit Stones to buy land, they could build structures of any size, and Qingzhou City wouldn’t interfere.

It was precisely because of this policy that mansions comparable to small cities sprang up in the Outer City. Initially, everyone was relatively restrained, but the estates just kept growing larger and larger.

With development and population growth, this was a natural trend. After all, the mortal world was stable, and the cultivation world had few disputes. It was a relatively peaceful period, so a growing population was to be expected.

As Qingzhou’s center, Qingzhou City drew more and more people and factions. The old city soon ran out of room, so development had to move beyond its walls. Intended to help ordinary commoners, it had become a way for factions to outdo one another.

However, Qingzhou City had anticipated this outcome. Land for factions was strictly limited to the eastern and southern districts, while the western and northern areas belonged to the commoners. Even if a faction wanted to buy there, it wasn’t for sale.

After all, this policy was originally meant to look out for the commoners. Splitting the land in half was just right—it accommodated the ordinary people while still earning Spirit Stones from the major factions.

Qin Xiao was currently in the land sales department, listening to a clerk’s explanation.

“You probably know the basics already. Where are you looking to buy, and how much land do you want?”

Having finished his explanation, the clerk began inquiring about the location and size Qin Xiao wanted to purchase.

“How far out does this Eastern District go?”

Qin Xiao asked, looking at the map spread out before him.

The east had always been a symbol of nobility, so naturally, he wanted to buy in the Eastern District.

“The boundary of the Eastern District is marked by this Qingshui River. Everything on this side of the river is within the sales zone. Although it’s over a hundred Li from the Middle City, the price is cheap. Besides, a hundred Li is hardly any distance at all for a cultivator.”

Seeing that Qin Xiao didn’t look particularly wealthy, the clerk recommended he buy land out there. This outermost fringe had always been neglected. If he could manage to sell a plot there himself, he would definitely receive a bonus.

“The location isn’t bad. What’s the price?”

Qin Xiao liked the location. It had no neighbors, and a river ran nearby. A place should have mountains or water, surely? There were no mountains on this plain, so he had to have the river.

“That depends on how much you want to buy. Since it’s on the very edge, the price is naturally a bit cheaper. Land is sold by the square zhang. For that area, one square zhang goes for one thousand Spirit Stones.”

Seeing that Qin Xiao was interested, the clerk hurried to explain the price.

Although the official price was one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones per square zhang, no one had bought any land there for years, prompting the drop to one thousand Spirit Stones.

“How does that measure out?” New chapters come out on novelping.com first.

Qin Xiao was a bit confused. How large was one square zhang? Ten square meters?

“Young Master, let me put it this way: one thousand Spirit Stones per square zhang means it’s only sixty thousand Spirit Stones per Mu. Even if you buy ten Mu, it’s only six hundred thousand Spirit Stones. That’s a massive area, enough for anything you’d want to do. Six hundred thousand would barely buy you a square chi of land in the Middle City, let alone a square zhang, but out in the Outer City, you’re getting ten whole Mu.”

The clerk thought Qin Xiao found it too expensive and quickly tried to explain.

“I don’t really know exactly how much space I need either. Tell you what, look at my hand. This whole area circled right here—how big is that?”

Qin Xiao hadn’t asked about the measurements because he thought it was expensive, but because he lacked an intuitive sense of the area. Even converted to Mu, he still had no idea. It was easier to just draw a circle on the map.

“Young Master, you do realize this is a map, right? That casual circle of yours encompasses nearly two thousand Mu. Young Master, are you trying to build a city?”

The clerk was dumbfounded. You had better not be making fun of me! I may only be a clerk in this department, but I still work for the Heavenly Dynasty.

“Two thousand Mu? I don’t know if that’s enough. Here, expand it a bit more around my circle. Three thousand Mu in total should be about right. Relax, I’m not short on money.”

Since it was so cheap anyway, Qin Xiao simply decided to grab three thousand Mu. That would surely be enough space to build whatever style he wanted later.

“Young Master, are you sure?”

The clerk was baffled. Did this kid have no sense of scale, or just more money than sense?

“Of course I’m sure. Since it’s so cheap, I naturally want to buy a bit more. Bring out the contract. Let’s sign and settle the bill.”

Too lazy to waste any more breath, Qin Xiao urged him on.

“Yes, yes, of course! Young Master, please wait a moment. I will fetch the contract and the map right away.”

Now the clerk was certain: the kid had more money than sense and could not resist a bargain.

“Master, why buy such a large plot of land? Three thousand Mu… are you planning to plant a spirit herb field?”

Yun Man did not understand either. If it was land for buildings, he did not need nearly so much.

“I have my plans. I want to build a small city on these three thousand Mu. I have all sorts of ideas now, and I need enough room to try them out.”

Qin Xiao wanted so much land to recreate the modern buildings of his previous life. He could not cultivate here, only practice Body Refinement. So why the hell bother pursuing immortality? With an unlimited supply of Spirit Stones for energy, it would be a waste not to do something.

There was no electricity, but there was spiritual energy! Storage Bags solved transport. He could experiment with Formations for the rest, and cultivators who refined pills and artifacts could process the materials. Why waste the chance to try some technology and ambitious projects?

Soon enough, the clerk returned, bringing an official along with the contract and the map to Qin Xiao.

“Are you the one who wants to buy three thousand Mu of land?”

The official looked Qin Xiao over. He seemed familiar, but the official could not remember where he had seen him. A sale this large required him to be there in person. Enjoying the story? Read on at NovelPing.

“That’s right, it’s me. Is the contract ready? Do we just make the trade now, or is there something else?”

Qin Xiao had no patience for more talk. His head was full of ideas; he wanted the land quickly so he could hire workers and get started.

“The contract is ready, and the map is here as well. Once it’s signed, we will send people to help you mark the boundaries. However, how do you intend to pay? Cash upfront, or in installments? Installments will accrue a certain amount of interest and will require the signature of a guarantor.”

With no more questions from Qin Xiao, the official wanted to close the sale quickly too. But he had to explain the terms. This was a large sale; installments would require a guarantor.

“Cash. Upfront, of course.”

What kind of joke is this? With my status, you really think you can trick me into paying in installments?

“Three thousand Mu, at sixty thousand per Mu, comes to a total of one hundred and eighty million Spirit Stones.”

Hearing that Qin Xiao would pay upfront, the official finally believed his subordinate: a man with more money than sense had come in. At first he had doubted it. Now he believed it. Who else would spend a hundred and eighty million Spirit Stones on land at the very edge of the city?

“Here are one hundred and eighty million Spirit Stones. Count them yourselves, and let’s sign once you’re done.”

Qin Xiao took out a Storage Bag and placed it in front of the two men.

He had specifically exchanged his wealth back into Low Grade Spirit Stones for this. It was better to avoid using Middle Grade Spirit Stones for normal transactions, lest he raise unnecessary suspicion.

However, Qin Xiao was overthinking things. Dropping one hundred and eighty million to buy a plot of land on the edge of the city was far more suspicious than paying with Middle Grade Spirit Stones ever could be.

“The Spirit Stones are all accounted for! Young Master, please wait just a moment. Someone come here, serve some spirit fruits! How could we possibly neglect the Young Master?”

After counting the stones, the official’s attitude changed at once. Now this was a customer to look after! Someone who could produce a hundred and eighty million Spirit Stones had to be extraordinary. He might buy more land later; they must treat him well.

“No need to be polite. Just hurry up and process the paperwork.”

Qin Xiao couldn’t care less about their hospitality. Just finalize the contract quickly; I still need to hire people and get to work.

“Quite right, Young Master. The contract is stamped, and I have signed it. There are two copies. Once you sign both, you may take your deed. This detailed map is yours too, and the land will belong to you. Tell us if you need anything else. We also have a construction department if you wish to build an estate.”

The official smiled as he handed Qin Xiao the contract. His signature would complete the sale.

Qin Xiao signed his name, took the land deed and map, and left the land sales department.

“Qin Xiao? It’s him?”

After Qin Xiao departed, the official stared at the signature on the contract, finally realizing why the young man had looked so familiar. This kid was Qin Xiao, the very same person who had killed Grand Commander Chen! His portrait had long been circulating among the local officials, and he himself had glanced at it a few times.