Chapter 201: The Great Magic—Xiangcheng 11

""Is he alright?""

Tu You stepped forward, looking at the card in Sang Chu’s hand. Sang Chu shook her head slightly. ""He’s not hurt, just extremely agitated and trying to break free from the card. You’d better put it away for now. I’m worried he’ll break through the card’s restrictions!""

The frenzied Earth Spirit was pounding against the card’s barrier, and once it broke free, Tu You wouldn’t be able to control so many of them at once.

""Alright. Be careful yourself.""

After speaking, Tu You took the card and instantly disappeared from everyone’s sight.

With Tu You gone, the oppressive aura faded. Only then did Xue You walk up, shaking the card in Sang Chu’s hand. ""Let me play with this for a bit, since you’re not in a hurry to use it.""

""I’m not in a hurry. I’ve basically figured out its function. Take your time.""

""Okay. Are you going to Xiangcheng now?""

Xue You was wondering if they should head straight to Xiangcheng, but Sang Chu hesitated for a moment. She turned to the Xiangcheng Lord, who was trying his best to blend into the background. ""City Lord, do you want the rest of those… things?""

""I do want them, but…""

He simply didn’t have that much money!

Sang Chu smiled. ""No need for crystals. I have some things to take care of here. City Lord, you can gather some items for me. As long as their value exceeds ten thousand, I’ll give you the rest of those things.""

""Really?""

""Really.""

Sang Chu looked at the City Lord and added, ""Anything is fine—this includes but isn’t limited to weapons, magic, light stones, beds, sand, cloth, magical ingredients, food, slaves—whatever you have, I’ll take it. These are easier to collect than crystals.""

""Alright, just give me a list. I’ll have my people gather everything for you right away!""

Sang Chu nodded. ""Once Xue You and I are done here, I’ll send you back to the City Lord’s mansion. As for the magic, the City Lord can handle it himself after I leave.""

Xiangcheng Lord quickly nodded. ""Your Highness, rest assured, I won’t leak a single word. Please don’t worry!""

""Mm. Xue You, send the City Lord back.""

""Alright.""

After Xue You sent the group away, Sang Jingwen finally turned to Sang Chu. ""Little sister, is there anything here we need?""

""Yes. A Shaoqing is a Level Six, and this place is his base, so there must be a lot of things inside. Xu Ke, did you get anything from earlier?""

Xu Ke: ""Yes.""

Sang Chu: ""Then wake that guy up. He knows this place well. Everyone, try to clear out everything here. Don’t leave a single piece of trash behind—anything could be a reusable resource.""

Granny Xiang, supported by Na, slowly walked over. ""Let me handle his room. You go collect materials from the storage area.""

Mu Xue glanced at Granny Xiang. She wasn’t stupid—after seeing A Shaoqing get his stomach cut open by Sang Chu, she knew exactly how things worked here. Even though she found these actions a bit terrifying, she didn’t want to be like before. She wanted to become someone who could protect everyone.

""Granny, you’ve been under a spell for a long time and must not be feeling well. Leave the searching to me. Xu Ke, wake that man up.""

Seeing the hatred in Mu Xue’s eyes, Sang Chu couldn’t help but smile and ruffle her hair. ""Alright, you’ve been hurt too, so stay here with me. We don’t need that many people to collect things. Sai H, C, you and Xu Ke keep an eye on the others. The rest of you, sorry for the trouble, but please gather up everything you see—no need to sort it, just take it all.""

Sai H: ""Okay, I’ll go now. Master, you get some rest.""

C grabbed the man on the ground, and after exchanging a glance with Lu Min, Xu Ke followed him out.

...

Only after returning to Xiangcheng did the City Lord feel like he’d survived a disaster. After getting back to his own mansion, someone whispered in his ear, ""City Lord, what should we do now? That… that A Shaoqing…""

""What A Shaoqing? There’s no such person in Xiangcheng. Don’t blame me for not warning you—look at the people in the City Lord’s mansion, and then think about those corpses you just saw. If you don’t want to die, forget everything.""

""Of course, I know that! It’s just…""

The City Lord said coldly, ""Go home and gather anything of value. Bring it here as soon as possible, and I’ll give you the crystal coins!""

""I’ll go now. Really, anything?""

""Even everyday clothes?""

The City Lord rolled his eyes. He didn’t know what she wanted with everyday clothes, but since she asked, he’d give them. They weren’t worth much anyway, so the more the better.

""Alright, I’ll go now.""

The City Lord watched as his subordinates left one after another, then glanced back at the family heads who’d been tied up. He felt helpless.

Xue You had originally wanted to wait for news here, but when she saw the Earth Spirit break through the barrier, she immediately ran after it—faster than even its young form. By now, she’d probably forgotten all about the people tied up here.

He didn’t dare say anything. The Demon King was a woman, and a terrifying one at that. He didn’t want to provoke her.

""Forget it, better not get in her way!""

The City Lord turned and left the hall to gather items.

...

City Lord’s Mansion, Main Hall

Sang Chu sat at the head seat. Xue You looked coldly at the family heads kneeling and trembling on the floor. ""Don’t just kneel there—go home and bring anything valuable. Otherwise, I’ll take your lives tonight!""

""Yes, yes, Demon King, please wait a moment. I’ll go right away!""

""Yes, right away, right away!""

The ones who’d been untied were shivering from the cold, scrambling out the door as fast as they could, terrified of being tied up again.

Xi Rui stood to the side and asked Sang Chu, ""A Chu, do you need me to go out and buy anything?""

Sang Chu: ""No need. Everyone rest for now. Once we have the items tonight, we’ll head straight to Rose Valley.""

Sang Jingwen was silent for a long time before speaking. ""Sang Sang, I’ve been cultivating for over ten months. Once we reach Rose Valley, can I find a place to close up and train?""

Xue You: ""I don’t recommend you train inside the city.""

Sang Chu looked at Xue You in confusion. ""Why not? Isn’t it safer inside the city?""

Xue You: ""There are plenty of people like A Shaoqing in the city. Otherwise, how do you think you got captured so easily? If even I could be caught, what about you? Outside the city, magic is less effective, but I and the Earth Spirit can protect you. Inside the city, that’s not guaranteed. Outside, you can train on the carriage, and we’ll keep you safe. Once you’re stable, you can enter Rose Valley.""

""Alright, let’s do that then!"""

"Here is a fluent, natural English translation of the provided Chinese text:

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**Chapter 202: Magic is Grand—Rose Cottage’s Wilderness**

**Chapter 202: Magic is Grand—Rose Cottage’s Wilderness**

Rose Cottage Wilderness

Watching the magic behind her slowly fade away, Muxue asked curiously, “Sangsang, can magic be made permanent?”

Xueyou glanced at her and jumped straight onto the R, sitting down. “What are you thinking? For magic to last forever, you’d need a massive amount of magical power. Without that, the moment your magic runs out, you’d be torn to shreds instantly. If you want something permanent, you might as well make yourself a permanent magic battery.”

Ever since Muxue found out she was Sangchu’s card slave, she wasn’t afraid of him anymore. She retorted, “So, you’re saying you’re not strong enough? What about the Demon King? He’s always bragging about how powerful he is, but look at him now!”

Xueyou shot back, “If you’re so powerful, why don’t you go do it yourself?”

Muxue flicked her hair and arrogantly grabbed Sangchu’s hand. “I never said I was powerful. You’re the one always boasting, but in the end, you can’t even get into the city. Hmph! Sangsang, let’s ignore him. Tell me how this time-flow cultivation works. I’m already on the R and can’t wait!”

Xueyou wanted to argue, but seeing Sangchu already leading the way into the Rose Cottage, he was left frustrated and speechless.

Lu Minle and Sang Jingwen, along with Yan Yuehan, quietly followed Sangchu inside, practically invisible.

Outside the Rose Cottage, only Xueyou and the four exhausted earth spirits remained, sprawled on the ground.

**Inside Rose Cottage**

Sangchu led everyone into the cultivation room. As soon as she turned on the lights, she took out the magic artifacts from her storage ring and placed them on the ground, then brought out an hourglass. “This cultivation room can only hold five magic artifacts at a time. Everyone, split up and cultivate accordingly. There are similar setups in other rooms, so just find one for yourselves.”

Muxue was the first to raise her hand. “I’ll use this one, then. Here I go!”

She had used it once before and knew how it worked. Lin Muxue stepped into the magic circle, grabbed the hourglass, and as a beam of light shone down, the magic was instantly activated and she disappeared from sight.

Sangchu said, “Just do as Muxue did. It’s very safe. I’ve set the time to one month. After a month, the magic will give you a prompt, and you can exit. As for how long a month inside the time-reversal field actually feels, I’m not sure, but it should help everyone make great progress!”

Sang Jingwen said, “I’ll use this one too, Sangsang. I’m going in.”

“Okay, big brother, good luck.”

Yipin followed Sang Jingwen into another room. Lu Minle watched them go, glanced at Sangchu, and then followed with Xuke into another room as well.

Sehe also went in after them.

Xuke took out something he’d found earlier among A Shaoqing’s stash and handed it to Sangchu. “This isn’t something that should be shown to others, so I’m giving it to you privately, Master.”

Sangchu frowned as she took it and saw that it was human blood and some other unspeakable things.

“I’m afraid we can’t hide this. Xiaoxue’s powers are sometimes uncontrollable—who knows if she’ll sense these things.”

Lu Minle said, “That’s what I’m worried about too. Is there any way to shield this from Xiaoxue?”

Sehe said, “Muxue’s situation is a bit like the prophets of my witch clan—she has extraordinary perception. Usually, if someone wants to hide something from her, it’s almost impossible.”

Hearing this, Sangchu and Lu Minle could only sigh helplessly. Xuke, watching them, couldn’t help but say, “Master, Sangchu, I think you’re being a bit too protective. The others probably already know about these things. Just because you don’t say it, doesn’t mean they don’t know.”

Sangchu smiled, “As long as no one says it out loud, he doesn’t need to get involved. There’s no need for so many people to wade into the mud. But you’re right, Xuke—who knows what Muxue can really see? If she pretends not to know, then I’ll do the same. As for these things, once we return to the apocalypse, we can give them to A Shaoqing for use. No need to waste them.”

Sehe asked, “Master, you said supplies are scarce in the apocalypse. While you’re cultivating, do you need me and C to go to the city to buy supplies?”

She was genuinely worried that once they got to the apocalypse, food, drink, and daily necessities would be hard to come by. She didn’t want to finally have a bit of comfort, only to go back to the days of crawling in the dark.

Sangchu replied, “Sure, I’ll give you money. Take L with you for safety, and have him teach you how to control and use servant soul magic. Once you learn it, it’ll be a big help.”

C and Sehe looked at Sangchu in surprise. “Servant soul magic? What’s that?”

Sangchu realized the others didn’t know about the servant soul magic she possessed. “You’ll find out soon. Xirui has already gone into the Rose Cottage to cultivate, so just focus on supplies. No need to buy food, but get plenty of clothes and fabrics, especially for making tents and such.”

Even if these might end up being used by little fairies, it didn’t matter—it would save a lot of labor. Once they returned, maybe they could start expanding the underground city above ground and reveal it to the world.

Right now, she had a large number of resources, four earth spirits, A Shaoqing’s subordinates, many card slaves, and magic weapons. Once she returned to Qinghai City and recruited more ability users, her base would be the largest, most resource-rich, and most powerful in the apocalypse.

Sehe noticed Sangchu smiling to herself and found it odd, but didn’t ask. “Master, do you want the tents and such to be made by little fairies?”

“Either way is fine. If the fire elementals can make them, great. If not, it doesn’t matter. In my world, little fairies don’t exist.”

“Alright, I understand. I’ll go now.”

Sangchu took out L’s card and released him, handing him a pill. “Go with Sehe. Don’t cause any trouble, and don’t let Xueyou catch you. If you try to run, I’ll make your life a living hell.”

L bowed his head, the old slyness in his eyes instantly replaced by fear. “Don’t worry, Master, I wouldn’t dare!”

“Good. While you’re with Sehe, teach him how to use servant soul magic.”

L suddenly looked up at Sangchu in shock. “Master, you know about servant soul magic?”

“Of course. That’s why I told you not to try anything. No matter how many bodies you have or where you hide, I can find you easily.”

This was to warn him not to try escaping by switching bodies. If she really had servant soul magic, he’d never get away—she could track him no matter where he hid.

“I understand.”

Not daring to say more, L followed Sehe to Rose Cottage, while Sangchu also entered the cultivation room to begin her own training.

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Let me know if you need further localization or have specific character names/terms you want adjusted!"