Yang Hong discussed some more details with Yu Ke-wei before returning to the research at the island's center.
A large island with a diameter of 3,600 li had an area no smaller than that of the Great Xia's territory on the Blue Star.
Such a vast expanse of land could easily support a population of one billion, let alone 470,000.
Even if all 470,000 people cultivated, it wouldn't be a significant problem.
The difficulty lay in the cultivation of an ever-increasing population in the future.
Therefore, Yang Hong began planning early, starting from the present.
While planning, he adjusted the spiritual plants being cultivated on the Island of Humanity.
He also had to go all out to empower those fifth-grade spiritual plants, as having only ten demon race islands seemed rather peculiar.
He needed to transform more flower and tree demons to bolster their presence.
As for accelerating the growth of spiritual plants using the [Divine Rain Technique], Yang Hong had already assigned that task to Yu Ke-wei and other flower and tree demons skilled in spells.
His [Divine Rain Technique] was too powerful and too distinctive; it was best to wait until after the Golden Star Black Fish tribe had conducted their search before using it.
From then on, the Island of Humanity and the surrounding waters became quiet.
...
Time flowed like water, and it was also a potent balm for the soul.
In the blink of an eye, a year had passed.
Under Yu Ke-wei's management, the renaming of Kuang She City to [Hua Mu City] had also begun, and it was now open for external trade.
She Mao Hai, the island lord of a large island with a circumference of a thousand li, located 20,000 li away from the Island of Humanity, arrived at [Hua Mu City] today with his thirty subordinates after a month-long voyage by sea.
"My King, are we really going to trade with Hua Mu City?
Your subordinate just observed that there are only over a dozen sixth-rank demon kings within Hua Mu City, and they are all in the early stages. We could..."
A subordinate next to She Mao Hai made a throat-slitting gesture, unconcerned by the watchful eyes around them.
"Trade first, then wait for an opportunity."
She Mao Hai did not agree. Although he was a seventh-rank Demon Lord and had six Demon King subordinates with him, he was not foolish.
The renaming of Kuang She City to Hua Mu City indicated that the three Demon Lords on Kuang She Island were definitely dead.
He did not wish to test Hua Mu City's strength with his own life.
The group of demons successfully passed through the unguarded dock and easily entered Hua Mu City, which also lacked guards.
"My King, there are so few demons in Hua Mu City.
I heard that those demon kings are powerful demons who roamed from other sea regions a year ago?"
A fox demon next to She Mao Hai's subordinate, Hu Jin Hua, had her pupils flashing with a green light, using her eye technique to scan Hua Mu City.
Aside from feeling ordinary, she sensed nothing else.
She couldn't help but doubt the rumors.
"Hu Jin Hua, you don't need to doubt.
Those ten demons previously swept across a million li of sea.
Although they deliberately avoided islands with demon kings, they still killed over a hundred sixth-rank demon kings."
"So powerful?"
The fox demon, Hu Jin Hua, was slightly surprised. She had been in seclusion breaking through to become a sixth-rank demon king and hadn't learned of Yu Ke-wei's group's achievements.
"That powerful. Even within our circle of Demon Lords, it's suspected that behind these ten demon kings, there is at least one Demon Lord, and a powerful one at that.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to kill the strong individual who dealt with Kuang She Demon Lord."
"Ah, that formidable."
"Mhm."
She Mao Hai's expression was grave. He was also of the snake clan and had interacted with the lord of Kuang She Island quite a bit, knowing his strength, which made him even more astonished.
Therefore, he was naturally more cautious during this trading expedition.
"My King, I just checked, and Hua Mu City doesn't have a city-guarding formation," Hu Jin Hua suddenly said after they had walked for a while.
"Are you sure?"
She Mao Hai was taken aback by Hu Jin Hua's report, surprised that Hua Mu City had no city-guarding formation.
He was startled and cautiously extended his spiritual sense to scout ahead.
However, fearing a misunderstanding with an unknown powerful being, he didn't dare to probe too deeply.
"Huh? There really is no city-guarding formation, not even the original city-guarding formation of Kuang She City is gone."
Soon, She Mao Hai discovered that Hua Mu City indeed lacked a city-guarding formation. With this discovery, he increased his spiritual sense probing.
"There are no traces of any formations inside or outside the city.
This is very abnormal. Everyone, be even more cautious."
Instead of being pleased, She Mao Hai's expression grew more solemn.
Hua Mu City, unguarded by formations, with no city-guarding demons, stood openly, like a delicious piece of fat meat placed before wolves and tigers.
This could only be due to extreme foolishness or immense strength.
So powerful that they feared no one would dare to attack.
Could the demons who annihilated Kuang She Island be foolish?
"My King, I've discovered that all the plants in this city are spiritual plants. Not a single ordinary plant, not even a wild grass," Hu Jin Hua said. Her eyes still emitted a green light as she continuously observed Hua Mu City, quickly discovering another unusual aspect.
"Mhm."
She Mao Hai became even more vigilant. The other twenty-nine demon kings and great demons also put away their initial contempt, and their steps became more coordinated as they walked.
No demon was an idiot. They all knew that in the natural world, even in sacred places of cultivation, it was impossible to completely eliminate ordinary plants.
Now, Hua Mu City looked lush and green, yet it contained not a single ordinary plant, which indicated that these spiritual plants were deliberately cultivated.
These spiritual plants might pose a danger.
At least, their knowledge was limited. Even with Hu Jin Hua, a third-rank formation master, they couldn't figure anything out.
She Mao Hai's group slowed their pace. In the vast, empty city, only the sound of their footsteps could be heard, which was somewhat eerie.
However, no matter how slowly they walked, they had to press forward with bated breath. Since they had come this far, they had to venture into the dragon's lair and the tiger's den.
Fortunately, the newly built City Lord's Mansion was not far from the port and city gates.
Soon, a bluestone building appeared before them, with the words "City Lord's Mansion" written in human script.
A small girl, about three feet tall, with a delicate and beautiful appearance, was dozing on the steps at the entrance of the City Lord's Mansion.
She Mao Hai looked somewhat surprised but dared not be dismissive. This little girl was also a sixth-rank demon king, and her aura was stable, indicating a solid foundation.
He gave a nod to Hu Jin Hua beside him, signaling her to go up and negotiate.
Hu Jin Hua's charming fox face immediately adopted a gentle smile. She stepped forward a few paces and said softly,
"Greetings, fellow cultivator.
We are demons from Kui Qiu Island. May I ask for your name, fellow cultivator?"
"Ah~ finally, some visitors.
I am Xiao Kui, this year's rotating City Lord of Hua Mu City.
Have you come to buy something?"
The little girl jumped up upon hearing someone speak. Seeing the demons, she excitedly ran down.
This was the first time she had seen an external demon in more than half a year; she was bored to death.
"Mhm~ we are here to buy things."
Hu Jin Hua was a bit confused. This demon king, at least at the sixth rank and third stage, behaved like a human girl, appearing mentally unsound.
However, her aura and strength were much more formidable than hers.
"Mhm~ cough, cough~"
Xiao Kui seemed to realize she was not behaving properly. She coughed twice, emulating Yang Hong, with one hand behind her back and her head slightly raised, exuding an air of looking down on the world, yet looking undeniably adorable.
"I'll show you our new products. Let's see if you can afford them."
As she spoke, Xiao Kui impatiently flicked her hand, arranging stacks of leaves in front of her.
"These are... leaves?"
The demons were dumbfounded. What kind of new product was this?
And why was this little girl so unreliable?
"Huh?"
She Mao Hai exclaimed, stepping out from the crowd and approaching the pile of leaves. He carefully flipped through them.
"Talismans~ Talismans!"
He suddenly looked up in astonishment at Xiao Kui.
"Hehe~ they are talismans! Aren't they amazing?
These are Hua Mu City's new products and will be our main focus in the future!"
Xiao Kui smiled proudly, like a blooming sunflower.
One-tenth of these leaves were her own, and she was the most skilled talisman craftsman among Yang Hong's demon kings.
"Heavens! These are talismans grown from trees?"
Hu Jin Hua also saw the trick and exclaimed in surprise.
The other demon kings widened their eyes in disbelief and then rushed forward to examine them.