Zhang Lie said, "I don't have any plans to manufacture paper currency as yet, but we're not in a hurry to do so. Send a few hunters to the nearby human cities and purchase a few storage-type soulshards."

The most problematic part about currency was that it would be difficult to transport. Purchasing a pound of mutated-grade lifeforms would cost a significant bag of silver coins, but this problem could be temporarily resolved with a storage-type soulshard.

Yun Bing nodded. "I was thinking of something similar."

All humans either hunted for or bought a storage-type soulshard for convenience, and this wasn't a novelty to them. The alien races, however, had no such privilege.

The shaman of the wood spirits and the chief of the Yeluo's eyes' brightened. They had obtained such soulshards from the humans they had come into contact with at great expense, but there hardly were enough for the rest of their clan.Having more such soulshards would be a tremendous boon for their kind.

Yun Bing continued, "We've also started collecting tax."

Zhang Lie shook his head. "I don't need any such tax. What would I do with these coins?"

Yun Bing disagreed. "Taxation is a necessary part of maintaining the market. Even if you don't need the money, the city will benefit if we spend these coins on your behalf. After all, we'll need hunters and warriors to defend the city. This can't be a fully volunteer-based system, and we need to pay them a decent salary for doing so. After all, by defending the city, they're losing valuable time during which they could be hunting."

"In that case, I'll leave the finances of the city and this bazaar to you, Yun Bing," Zhang Lie announced, convinced by her arguments.

Subsequently, accompanied by the chief of the Yeluo, he toured the Yeluo's new laboratory.

"It looks like you still have quite a few hidden recipes up your sleeve," he commented to his surprise.

The Yeluo were marketing a few potions of particular value: rapid-healing potions, antivenoms, antitoxins, repellents, and so on. There were quite a number of female or old workers manning the laboratory and the production lines.

The chief of the Yeluo smiled. "We got a few tips from Miss Yun Bing and managed to increase our throughput to a few hundred vials of potions a day."

After that, the shaman of the wood spirits brought him to the forests and the nearby farmland that Sun Mengmeng and the others had requested.

The wood spirits were radiating a gentle green light as they passed through the fields, speeding up the growth of the herbs and plants in the region.

The shaman said, "We're growing all sorts of spiritual herbs here, enough for the entire city to use, and we supply the Yeluo laboratory directly."

After going through the entire city, Zhang Lie returned to the sura king's palace. "I really can't believe all of you did so much within two months. I'm amazed by your diligence, and I'm glad you're all so capable."

Sun Mengmeng and Yun Bing glanced at each other. "Zhang Lie, there's something we'll need you to make a decision on."

"What is it?"

"Your city's name, of course. We haven't been able to come to a consensus on what name to choose, and we'd like for you to make a decision."

"What names have you thought of?"

"Initially, we wanted to call it the city of Lie."

Zhang Lie nodded: that seemed reasonable.

"However, the wood spirits and the Yeluo tribe vetoed that idea."

"Why?"

"Because it's no longer a city just of humans, and the single-word naming scheme used for human cities wouldn't be suitable."

"In that case, what name would you propose?"

"After some deliberation, we've settled on one name."

The shaman of the wood spirits, chief of the Yeluo, members of Team Zenith, Chu Feng, and Yun Bing announced simultaneously,

"The city of Renhuang!" [1]

Zhang Lie frowned.

Such a name didn't bring back good memories for him. After all, it was because those hunters of Qi had addressed him as a champion of mankind that he had ultimately been forced out of the city.

Sun Mengmeng added, "I know what you're worried about, Zhang Lie, but our situation is different now. What you experienced in Qi won't happen again, and I personally think this is a very suitable name."

Zhang Lie sucked in a deep breath. "Very well. if you're all in agreement, we'll call this the city of Renhuang."

Li Feng asked, "In that case, is today our founding day?"

"It certainly is!" Sun Mengmeng replied. "Shall we have a celebration?"

Chu Feng rushed off into the distance, shouting, "I'll bring some decorations over to drape throughout the city!"

The chief of the Yeluo smiled. "I'll let my kinsmen know to help as well. Not only did our governor return, our city has finally been named."

The shaman of the wood spirits flew off. "I'll let my clan know of this joyous occasion!"

"And I'll inform the rock spirits," Li Feng added.

Sun Mengmeng murmured in excitement, "We were already planning on a feast to celebrate your return—now we might as well make it even larger, to celebrate the founding of this city!"

Zhang Lie suddenly shouted, "Hold it!"

Everyone stopped moving.

Zhang Lie stepped out of the palace and took out the three golden rocs' carcasses. "This is a gift I brought back from Mt. Wanren."

Were these... peak-grade lifeforms?! Those present had all seen peak-grade lifeforms for themselves, but none as large as the golden roc that had almost ascended to disaster-grade. It was a few times larger than even ordinary peak-grade lifeforms. They couldn't imagine how Zhang Lie had managed to slay such a massive beast.

"This should be enough for a feast for the entire city. Ah, right, take this one as well."

He also pulled out the cactus-like plant-based lifeform that he had slain within the wood spirits' forest.

Everyone present began to salivate—they would all have a taste of these peak-grade lifeforms' flesh for themselves!

1. This is the romanization of 人皇, which I have previously translated as 'champion of mankind.' ☜