Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 70: Breathing to Transform into a Horse

"Master, we definitely won’t reach Shuiyun Lake before the Wilderness descends. I know of a hidden cave over the mountain where we can hide. I stayed there for a night with my grandfather before, so we can take our time without rushing," Wan Mingchuan was not worried about safety at all.

He knew his master often traveled through the Wilderness with true skill, but he had not yet cultivated much and worried about slowing his master down. So, as soon as they left the town, he started planning where to stay for the night.

Jiang Yuan casually pulled out the paper he bought in town today from his storage bag, skillfully folded two paper horses, and smiled, "Relying on our foot strength alone, we definitely can’t make it back before dark, but with horses to ride, we can certainly get home before the Wilderness descends."

Horses?!

Wan Mingchuan looked shocked at his master as he folded two white sheets of paper into horses and blew on them. They floated in the wind, growing larger until they landed on the ground and transformed into two large horses with robust limbs and manes flowing in the wind, neighing a single time and lowering their heads ready for orders.

"This, this is..." He gasped sharply, thinking no wonder his master was unfazed by the mysterious paper men and horses; he was well-versed in such skills himself!

Upon closer inspection, the saddles, stirrups, and reins on the horse were all complete, standing there lively and realistic, visible as fake only upon close observation, far more exquisite than the paper figures that white-faced woman made.

Wan Mingchuan couldn’t think of any words to describe his admiration, merely staring at the two large horses, wanting to touch them but afraid to do so.

"Don’t be afraid, the paper horses I make are very obedient, and even if you’re not skilled at riding, you won’t fall off." This was Jiang Yuan’s first formal attempt at blowing paper horses into life.

He previously pondered about spending some money for a night in Anping Town if it didn’t work, as the order deadline was two days, and returning early tomorrow wouldn’t be too late.

Unexpectedly, the level four Paperman and Paper Horse Skill was so effective, it was currently his strongest life-saving technique in the Wilderness World. In that moment when he blew the paper into horses, he could sense complete control over what he’d created, entirely different from using the Yin Warrior bestowed by Ji Xiuxiang.

In the real world, Jiang Yuan dared not attempt activating the paper figures for fear of losing control and being caught on surveillance cameras, creating unnecessary trouble. The Wilderness World lacked many such constraints, allowing him to boldly try new things.

He first mounted one white horse, motioning for his apprentice to do the same.

"Master!" Wan Mingchuan, riding on the horse, asked excitedly yet nervously, "Could you also make a flying white crane with such fantastic paper horses?"

"Of course, but crafting paper cranes is slightly more troublesome," Jiang Yuan rode smoothly on the horse, constantly reinforcing to himself that the Wilderness game was the real world and not to be misled by the game’s interface.

With the riding tools, the journey back was indeed quick and smooth. Riding paper horses instead of real ones allowed them to traverse rugged and difficult paths with ease, as the paper horses without autonomous thought followed their master’s commands unflinchingly, proving to be even more useful than real horses.

Upon returning to the courtyard, Jiang Yuan headed straight for the Floating Market, setting twenty mining pickaxes on the platform and pulling the handle, hearing the clinking of gold coins as the transaction completed with three thousand gold coins added to his account.

After leaving the Floating Market, he sat in the courtyard, skillfully folding paper horses and bulls, casually asking, "Mingchuan, where did the mining pickaxes the rat spirits forced you to use come from?"

"Our village used them for breaking stones when we were developing land. The village chief bought a few pickaxes, which were taken when the rat spirits invaded the village. Some were acquired from unknown sources. Initially, we didn’t have enough tools as there were lots of people. We tied suitable stones to sticks to smash rocks at first, but as the rat spirits became brazen, eating people, the miners grew fewer, and the mining picks and shovels barely sufficed." Mingchuan pondered before adding, "When Master directed the escape, no one wanted to discard their pickaxes or shovels and took everything they had. However, upon returning to the village, such precious iron tools were gathered by He Family from the villagers through excuses, having the village chief reclaim them."

Jiang Yuan mused that with Flame Rat’s shamelessness, they likely looted wherever they went, regardless of whether it was tools or mining slaves. Comparatively, the Ice-winged Eagle was truly a considerate neighbor.

The mining picks were purchased with money, preferring not to exhaust subordinates on labor, catching an old opponent for hard labor without ever thinking about harassing humans for labor.

But given the Wilderness World wasn’t just a game, he shouldn’t rely too much on Newbie Village’s luck and treat it like one. He better prepare more paperman horses, making some paper cranes and other flying creatures from bamboo strips and glue for emergencies.

At six o’clock in the evening, the Wilderness descended.

"Mingchuan, stay home and cultivate well, rest early if you tire, I’m heading out." Jiang Yuan adjusted the items he carried in his storage bag, ensuring the Teleportation Talisman and paper products were readily accessible before tidying his clothes to leave the courtyard and meet with Eagle Fifty-Third.

Meanwhile, Yun Mo also instructed his trusted aides to supervise the mining, while he proceeded directly to Cyan Fish Mountain Market to see if anyone had accepted an order.

"A dignified demon cultivator troubled by tools made by humans, then... how do those major sects over the Spirit Stone Vein extract ore?" Walking on the deserted market street, his mind was puzzled.

He quickly reflected, feeling reading had helped him think clearly — those powerful great demon cultivators could move mountains and fill seas with a flick of a finger, surely opening a mountain with a flick was simple?

Pondering about blasting open a mountain to expose Spirit Stone Veins shining like a galaxy, available at one’s whim, he felt a rush of excitement and anticipation.

Of course, he was merely a small demon cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage, only able to dream and long for that, yet being tricked by the stinking rats led him to discover Lushan containing Spirit Stone Veins, leaving him only needing to lead subordinates to mine and cultivate, guarding a Treasure Mountain, with a promising future!

"It hasn’t rained in a long time; spring this year is really dry."

"It’s said there’s a drought demon in the Land of the Far South, maybe affecting our weather here."

"These past two years have been bizarre indeed; rumors of human cultivators appearing frequently far away at Golden Carp Lake Market, surprising that Cyan Fish Mountain Market has traces of human cultivators too!"

"Hmm, I heard from a regular customer, supposedly due to the Wilderness’s descent causing previously depleted spiritual energy in the human world to revive again, somehow those lost legacies are also reviving, fearing human cultivators may rise again soon."

"To presumptuous humans, thinking to share the pie..."

......

At this time, Cyan Fish Mountain Market had just dispersed its white mist, leaving behind some lingering gauzy wisps. Shops on the street sides lit their red, green, yellow, purple paper lanterns, the shop boy busily laying wood boards and sweeping the doorstep, while many shop owners puffed and chatted their gossip as there weren’t many customers just after opening.

"Human cultivators appearing at Cyan Fish Mountain Market?" Yun Mo overheard the whispers, his mind suddenly flashing to Mister Jiang’s image, shocking him — he was also a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator?!

The Wilderness is vast, the Lushan he claimed was but a remote place; as long as he successfully cultivated Foundation Establishment, he could attract subordinates and claim a territory to be a minor leader.

More demon beasts spend their entire lives in the Qi Refining Stage, unable to advance; his Foundation Establishment was merely a stroke of luck, yet humans could just absorb some spiritual energy during the Wilderness descent at night and cultivate to Foundation Establishment, this talent is terrifying!

"Excuse me..." Yun Mo grew curious and quickly moved forward, respectfully asking, "The humans the shopkeeper spoke of, when did they appear at the market? How old?"