This is not just a shortage of food, but a lack of energy.

These people may seem like honest ordinary folks, but Chen Jiuge won’t underestimate them for that reason. After all, since coming to the Yellow Springs Realm, his cultivation is only at the First Level, the level of an ordinary person.

Among this group, there are about ten individuals who have reached a critical point. With a little more effort and enough energy and spiritual objects, breaking through the First Level is not difficult.

"New master, may I ask why you have summoned us here?"

Although Cai had previously mentioned that this new manor master is different from Deng Han, San Xiu still felt somewhat uneasy.

"And you are?"

"I am the humble San Xiu, the village chief of Muse Village!"

"Understood!"

Chen Jiuge spoke sternly, "I don’t like long-winded speeches, so I’ll say it once!"

"First, Deng Han is dead, and now Dusk Manor is mine, which means I am your new manor master!"

"Second, the environment in Muse Village is terrible. I will arrange for people to demolish and rebuild it, and food distribution will also be restructured!"

"Third, you are refugees, but I will give you the opportunity to become citizens!"

"All workers will receive a certain wage based on their contributions. If anyone improves or increases the production and quality of Dusk Wine, there will be additional rewards."

"Finally, I will arrange for Dong Wen to assist you in cultivation. Those who break through to Second Level Cultivation can decide for themselves whether to become manor guards or remain in Muse Village."

Before San Xiu and the others could react, Chen Jiuge waved his hand, releasing a large amount of food, and said, "This food is for you. Since you are the village chief, San Xiu, you will distribute it. I don’t want any trouble!"

"Yes, yes, my lord!" San Xiu replied with a slight tremor.

"Alright, that’s all!"

Chen Jiuge didn’t stay long. After speaking, he left with Xing Xia. With Dong Wen, a Third Level Martial Artist, around, there should be no problems.

On the way back, Xing Xia remarked curiously, "You’re quite a good person, huh!"

"A good person?" Chen Jiuge was puzzled.

"Yes, you’re offering such terms to a group of refugees, and as for that little girl, you didn’t even bring her back."

"It’s nothing surprising. Interests are the most lasting bond. Even if they become citizens, they’d only be the lowest class. The jobs they could find in Mountain City are just like that. I believe as long as they aren’t out of their minds, they will stay with me!"

"As for that little girl, why should I take her?" Chen Jiuge asked, confused.

"That little girl’s appearance is among the finest I’ve seen, yet you weren’t tempted."

Chen Jiuge chuckled indifferently.

"I think you will achieve great success!" Xing Xia said, feeling moved.

"Great success? No, I just hope to stabilize Dusk Manor first. I’ve spent too much money recently."

"I thought you didn’t care."

"How could I not care? I’m just a small figure at the First Level."

"A small figure at the First Level, I couldn’t tell!"

.......

Although Chen Jiuge’s management skills aren’t bad, time is tight now, so he won’t spend it on managing small matters of Dusk Manor.

Currently, Xing Xia is in charge of all the affairs of Dusk Manor, and for that, Chen Jiuge additionally paid ten thousand Life Money, equivalent to her month’s salary.

"Manor Master, the fierce beasts you needed have been placed in the backyard!" Dong Qing said, bowing.

"So soon?"

Chen Jiuge was a bit surprised, as he had given the instructions in the morning, and it was already done.

"With the ample funds provided by the Manor Master, it wasn’t a difficult task. There are many hunting teams in the city, and fierce beasts aren’t that rare. If it were living spiritual beasts, it might have been troublesome."

"Hmm, you did well!"

"Serving the Manor Master is my duty!"

Most of the native fierce beasts in the Yellow Springs Realm have been tainted by Yellow Springs Poison, making their flesh unusable. The only thing somewhat valuable is the Beast Pill.

But spiritual beasts are different. Their flesh alone is edible, making them much more valuable than fierce beasts. A bunch of breedable spiritual beasts, even if at the First Level, would be worth a fortune.

It’s just that Chen Jiuge isn’t familiar with the Yellow Springs Realm’s conditions. Otherwise, the spiritual beasts and spirit plants he used for trading in the Logistics Realm could not be exchanged for ten billion Star Coins.

One Logistics Realm alone could create a significant family in the Yellow Springs Realm.

Not to mention a Logistics Realm that can operate continuously. Although it shrinks upon entering the Yellow Springs Realm, it remains a world full of vitality, with immeasurable value to create.

If not, with Qin Lin’s money-grubbing nature, he wouldn’t have left Chen Jiuge with ten million Life Money and a moderately sized Dusk Manor. It’s just because he earned too much himself, he gave Chen Jiuge some perks.

"Roar!"

A brutal, chaotic roar directly struck Chen Jiuge’s head, and his previously calm face instantly broke.

"Is this a Yellow Springs Fierce Beast?"

Chen Jiuge was very shocked as he looked at the three Yellow Springs Fierce Beasts locked in the iron cage.

Their twisted bodies constantly emitted an ominous aura, resembling a ragdoll casually pieced together, looking extremely odd.

Their scarlet eyes radiated wildness, marking them as irrational monsters, with dark yellow saliva trickling down the sides of their mouths that produced a harsh corrosive sound upon meeting the iron cage.

Fortunately, these cages were no ordinary items. They were iron cages made of something called Star Iron, and even a Third Level Martial Artist would take considerable time to break it, let alone these three Second Level fierce beasts before them!

"Let me see, after arriving at the Yellow Springs Realm, does the Chaos Pearl’s ability still work!"

Chen Jiuge took out a rune, injected his mana, causing the rune’s surface to shine, and the fierce beasts in the iron cage were pressed directly to the ground, unable to move.

"It’s truly amazing. Clearly immortal power, but upon arriving in the Yellow Springs Realm, it turns into other substances. However, as Xing Xia said, regardless of the Extraordinary Path practiced, only mana and Qi-Blood exist as energies in the Yellow Springs Realm."

The Chaos Pearl did not disappoint Chen Jiuge, it indeed could improve or even enhance the ability of the fierce beasts, but the effect here compared to in the True Realm and Heavenly Gift Realm was significantly weaker.

"It can only slightly enhance its spiritual wisdom and some fundamental abilities!"

After probing, Chen Jiuge discovered that the Chaos Pearl provided the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures needed for cultivation and even showed the enhanced effects.

Generally, this meant an overall increase of thirty percent in physical qualities and a slight restoration of spiritual wisdom, reducing its current violent tendencies. However, there was still a long way to go before gaining independent consciousness!

Crucially, it required an abundance of spiritual materials, most of which Chen Jiuge had never encountered.

"This is troublesome!"

Chen Jiuge frowned, thinking that if the Chaos Pearl’s help was limited, quickly establishing a foothold in the Yellow Springs Realm might not be easy.

"Forget it, I’ll first gather these Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and see the effect!"

The task of gathering fell to Dong Qing. As a Third Level Martial Artist, though of refugee status, he still recognized some of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures Chen Jiuge mentioned.

"Sir, this may cost three thousand Life Money!"

This price was quite terrifying, as three thousand Life Money equated to three hundred thousand Dead Money, and a normal ordinary person in the Yellow Springs Realm earned only three to five thousand a month, comparable to five to six years of wages without eating or drinking!

"Three thousand Life Money, huh. Go and buy me three sets!"

In the blink of an eye, nine thousand Life Money was gone, almost equivalent to the cost of formal citizenship, which even made Dong Qing feel a pinch. If only the money were his!

Despite these thoughts, Dong Qing didn’t dare covet the nine thousand Life Money. As a refugee, if he truly embezzled this sum, he’d never attain formal citizen status, and if he did, he’d be suppressed as a rebel by the Ten Temples Department.

"Yes, sir!"

Watching Dong Qing leave nervously, Chen Jiuge’s eyes showed a trace of caution. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"The value of Yellow Springs Fierce Beasts isn’t high. Three Second Level Fierce Beasts are worth just three hundred Life Money, but Xing Xia mentioned an underground Beast Fighting Arena in the dark side of Mountain City."

"Maybe to earn wealth and establish a foothold using fierce beasts, this Beast Fighting Arena is something I must get involved in."