Donning a mask to conceal her face, He Yuxiu made her approach to the allotted land with ease. Addressing the pioneers, she inquired, "Are you the ones intending to reclaim this territory?"
The twenty-five three-headed creatures ceased their movements, their gazes fixed upon He Yuxiu. Without daring to draw a deep breath, they merely nodded in unison.
"Permission granted!" With a decisive step forward, He Yuxiu retrieved a delicate bottle of wine from the table. She poured half of its contents onto the earth below before draining the remainder in a single gulp.
Li Banfeng let out a scoff, thinking that such haste would surely prevent the land from being successfully illuminated.
However, before the echoes of his laughter could fully dissipate, gasps of astonishment swept through the onlookers as the plot of land did, in fact, begin to glow.
Having never before witnessed the process of land reclamation, these three-headed beings were utterly captivated, finding themselves completely awestruck by the sight of the land's illuminated boundaries.
Li Banfeng's astonishment surpassed even theirs.
Could it be that a mere few words from He Yuxiu were sufficient to make the land luminous?
After so many failed attempts in the past, how was he to reconcile this?
Li Banfeng engaged in prolonged contemplation, eventually formulating a personal explanation for this turn of events.
He reasoned that He Yuxiu possessed a significantly higher cultivation level, placing her far beyond the Clouds, while he himself remained merely at the Earth's Skin stage. This substantial disparity in their cultivation realms, he concluded, was the primary reason.
The local deity had clearly given their approval for the reclamation, leaving the preparations for this endeavor as the immediate next step.
By the following day, the official examination commenced. The twenty-five three-headed individuals were on high alert, their trepidation palpable as they faced their inaugural land reclamation and dared not exhibit any carelessness.
He Yuxiu, anticipating no unusual monstrous interlopers, observed the proceedings with a detached coolness.
Suddenly, Li Banfeng felt a prickle of impending danger. His gaze darted into the distance, and as the twilight deepened, he spotted a colossal silhouette rapidly approaching.
"What is that entity?"
"It looks so familiar!"
"Old Five, did you perhaps summon Yanzi?"
Ma Wu glanced over, shook his head, and replied, "That's not Yanzi; this is no creature of our Straw Moth clan!"
"Then whose is it?" Li Banfeng moved closer, observing a colossal Straw Moth Lady methodically consuming leaves as it ambled toward the designated plot of land.
"Miss, what brings you here today?" Li Banfeng stepped forward, offering a polite greeting.
A faint blush touched the Straw Moth Lady's face. "You are too kind, little brother. I have come for the examination."
Li Banfeng gestured towards the three-headed beings on the reclaimed land. "You are here to examine them?"
"Indeed. Is there not a land reclamation taking place here?"
Li Banfeng paused, contemplating her words. "Are you perhaps a wandering monster? Wanderers are typically not permitted to participate in official examinations."
The Straw Moth Lady offered a slight nod. "You are correct, I should not have come. However, I possess an invitation!"
"And who extended this invitation?"
"It was Chu Yaoxian, the esteemed Lady Chu, of course!"
Li Banfeng appeared perplexed. "Is not Chu Yaoxian the local deity of this new territory?"
"Precisely!"
"Then why is she not attending to her own domain and instead causing a commotion here?"
The Straw Moth Lady pondered for a moment before shaking her head. "Little brother, that is a question beyond my knowledge. I am merely here for the examination. Once concluded, I shall proceed to Lady Chu to receive my cultivation rewards. I concern myself with nothing further."
Her explanation held a certain logic. It was not uncommon for local deities in developing regions to enlist the services of wandering monsters, much like how the Mountain-Uprooting Master had previously employed them to disrupt Meng Yuchun's territory.
The Straw Moth Lady ceased speaking and continued her determined crawl towards the plot of land. Li Banfeng called out, "Miss, have you not already attained the eighth layer of cultivation?"
Based on the established norms of the new land, a Straw Moth Lady's cultivation level was directly correlated with her physical size. Given that this particular lady was notably larger than Yanzi, Li Banfeng surmised she might be nearing the apex of her kind's potential.
The lady turned her head slightly. "Little brother, your perceptiveness is remarkable. With the reward from this task, I shall advance to the ninth layer. Upon reaching the ninth layer, my designation will change; I will no longer be known as a Straw Moth but will emerge as a truly beautiful maiden."
So, a transformation indeed occurred upon a Straw Moth Lady's advancement to the ninth layer.
However, this was not the primary concern. The crucial issue was whether an eighth-layer monster was a suitable examiner for a mile-wide stretch of land.
Li Banfeng hurried after the Straw Moth, raising his voice. "Miss, please do not proceed to the plot just yet. Whatever cultivation reward Chu Yaoxian has promised you, I am prepared to compensate you accordingly."
"Little brother, perhaps another time. I have already given my word to Lady Chu, and I am a being of my commitments."
A frown creased Li Banfeng's brow. They could not allow this Straw Moth to jeopardize the very first land reclamation within their territory.
Just as he prepared to intervene, He Yuxiu stepped in his path. "Old Seven, refrain from involvement. I shall handle this matter."
The Straw Moth regarded He Yuxiu, her voice laced with curiosity. "And who might you be?"
He Yuxiu responded, "I am the local deity of this place, and I forbid you from proceeding with the examination."
The Straw Moth Lady knitted her brows, saying, "You are conducting the examination yet refuse my participation; is that not against the established rules?"
He Yuxiu let out a cold laugh, retorting, "You, an eighth-layer Straw Moth, are attempting to assess a mile of land; does that align with proper procedure?"
"Had there been any local beings present for the examination, I would not have intervened. However, since none are here, you have no grounds to stop me."
This particular Straw Moth Lady displayed a degree of reasonableness, clearly stating that if local strange entities were present, she would not interfere. But, as there were none, her role as a wandering monster conducting the examination was, in her view, perfectly acceptable.
Nevertheless, He Yuxiu was in no mood for leniency today, declaring firmly, "I am indeed going to stop you; the examination will not proceed under your supervision."
The Straw Moth Lady remained unfazed by his stance, issuing a challenge, "If you are willing to jeopardize your standing as the local deity, we can settle this conflict right here and now!"
Just as the confrontation was about to escalate, Ma Wu stepped in, gently restraining He Yuxiu. He then addressed the Straw Moth Lady, "Sister Xiu, it truly isn't worth it. May I have the honor of knowing your name, Miss?"
Their gazes locked intensely, and the lady, exhibiting a touch of shyness, lowered her head before responding, "My name is A Rou."
"A Rou, perhaps we could step aside for a private conversation?" Ma Wu inquired, his eyes still fixed on her.
"Make it brief," A Rou replied, feeling somewhat flustered under his persistent gaze, yet she complied and moved with Ma Wu.
Shortly after Ma Wu began conversing with A Rou, an elderly man arrived at the location.
The old man approached He Yuxiu, performing a respectful greeting with clasped hands, "Are you indeed the local deity presiding over this area?"
He Yuxiu gave a single nod in affirmation.
"Please, have a seat; I wish to discuss a matter with you," the old man said, using his sleeve to meticulously wipe a stone stump clean before gesturing for He Yuxiu to be seated.