Desert Outpost

A day later, the convoy finally stopped inside a canyon that had a clear river flowing through it. It was a small miracle for such an oasis to exist in the endless desert. There was water deep in the ground but only rarely would there be enough to appear above the surface.

The disciples of the Sapphire Mystic Empire decided that this was a good place for the next outpost. The specific location chosen had a set of narrows that could be dammed to create a permanent water source. The final location chosen was actually quite ingenious. It was a rocky outcrop that jutted out of the canyon floor. When the dam was built, the water level would rise and surround this piece of land on three sides, making it an easily defended outpost.

The female disciples immediately set to work. They unloaded their materials from the wagons and started constructing the teleportation array. In the meantime, the Bei Clan and the Liu Clan patrolled the surrounding area to clear out any dangers.

"Quickly, place those there."

"No, that's wrong, look closely at the schematic!"

The women of the south started out by flattening a piece of ground by digging and getting rid of large rocks. They then started laying down stone tiles in a circular pattern. Each tile was carved with countless inscriptions.

They didn't accept any help from either clan and actively kept watch around the construction area to chase away prying eyes However, they were mere mortals and they didn't dare to approach or chastise the hooded figure that hovered over their heads.

Chen Wentian observed their every move. The women were of various ages. The youngest among them were in their late twenties while the oldest were perhaps in their early forties. Some were pretty while others were average. However, all of them wore skimpy clothing or see-through robes that hid almost nothing from the imagination.

The teleportation array came to life quickly. Unlike the designs from the Immortal Association which used tall pillars of spiritual crystals and precious stones, the one for this outpost was completely flat. All the magic was in the stone tiles but he couldn't understand them. He recognized some of the characters in the inscription arrays but others were far too complicated and archaic for him.

He floated over a particular spot and stared intently at the design plan that was laid out over a large work table. The women gathered there gave him a few dirty looks but continued their work. He didn't get any additional information as the design only told the women where to place which tile. They knew nothing about the true secrets of the space-attribute Dao.

Besides the primary array, a few women also scouted the surroundings and placed down special instruments that could measure spatial anomalies. These were placed in a wide perimeter around the outpost so that they could get as early a warning as possible so that they could turn off the array before any additional harm was done.

After several hours, the construction task was finished. The women stood around the array, many drenched in sweat as they observed their hard work. Their thin outfits were plastered to their skin due to the moisture. The dirt and grime did not take away from their attractiveness. Instead, it was an even more stirring sight.

Chen Wentian really wanted to convince his disciples to wear these kinds of outfits while practicing martial arts. Then, his life as a sect master would become even better!

"It's ready!"

"Activate the array and call the Gao Outpost!"

The Gao Outpost was the previous outpost they had set out from. It was managed and protected by the Gao Clan, a moderately wealthy noble family with a long history in Drifting Sand City.

The circular stone platform started to emit a large amount of energy. Tiles lit up one after another in a circular fashion, filling the air with a faint black glow. Its nature was vastly different from the teleportation Dao of the Immortal Association.

"Good luck, Sister Ying!"

The youngest disciple stepped to the middle nervously. The one chosen to take the first trip would have to test if the array was set up correctly.

There was a flash of light and all of a sudden, she was gone.

A few suspenseful minutes later, the array glowed again. With a flash of light, the one named Sister Ying returned with a large number of wooden crates and additional construction materials.

"It worked!"

"Let's celebrate!"

She broke apart a wooden crate and reveal it to be full of small porcelain bottles of wine. The women quickly cleared the teleportation array and then shared a toast, each one of them downing a whole bottle. The fragrance of the sweet wine mixed together with their sweat and natural fragrance, creating another stimulating sight for Chen Wentian to enjoy.

After that, the teleportation array activated non-stop for several hours. Laborers arrived in the hundreds. They carried additional supplies and materials that had already been prepared. One team of builders headed to the river to start work on the dam. Another group of masons and carpenters started on houses for everyone.

There were also cooks, tailors, and other common folk that had chosen to take the dangerous trip into the desert. Having been tempted by promises of wealth and the might of a Spirit King Realm power, they came to the middle of the desert to become permanent residents of this outpost.

As more people and materials arrived, it became crowded and chaotic. Shouts and arguments mixed together with the loud complaints of goats and even a flock of chickens. It was barely organized mayhem.

Chen Wentian decided that the fun was over and left them to rejoin the Bei Clan.

"Elder Mo."

"Elder Mo."

Bei Yingluo and the rest all bowed as he arrived amidst them.

"Reporting to Elder Mo," Bei Yingluo said, "We have covered the area up to two, three kilometers from the outpost. We took care of some small wild beasts but there seems to be nothing else out there."

"Good, good. The outpost is just starting out. The teleportation array is already working and people are arriving. We should head back and pick out a good spot for our lodging before they get taken by the Liu Clan."

"Yes, Elder Mo."

"Oh, and it seems they have brought some good wine from the south. I managed to get my hands on some so we'll have to have a drink."

"Yes!"

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