Blessing of the Will of Nature

"Just as I thought back when I was viewing things in third-person perspective, it really did look pretty good."

After the ten Swadian Footmen escorted Liu Na and her twelve Halflings into the seventh floor, where they began taking charge of harvesting and storing the wheat, Shen Mu came out to inspect the apartment building after its transformation by the magic orb.

The main changes were on the fifth and sixth floors.

The ten-meter-wide Central Corridor had become quite spacious. At the very least, compared to the previous corridor that was less than two meters wide, walking through it felt far more comfortable, without that oppressive feeling.

"Lord Shen Mu, these are the invaders we killed—some Gnolls and Spiritual Realm Creatures known as Wild Goblins."

A Lake Rats Veteran Thug walking ahead explained as he led the way.

Near the stairway end of the corridor, quite a few Spiritual Realm Creature corpses lay strewn across the floor.

Their ugly appearances and rancid stench made Shen Mu stop several meters away. He casually ordered,

"Collect any usable weapons. As for the corpses, dispose of them all. Throw them outside the apartment building. When night comes, those Undead Monsters will help us deal with the bodies."

"Understood." The Lake Rats Veteran Thugs nodded, and several of them split off to handle the corpses.

Working in pairs, they grabbed the corpses by the heads and feet, dragging them along as blood dripped behind them. Then they reached the stairwell window at the end of the corridor and flipped the bodies out.

As dull thuds sounded below, the rest of the work was left to the night and the Undead Monsters.

Once night fell, the Undead Monsters would naturally devour the flesh and blood of those corpses.

If those corpses were lucky,

perhaps Necromantic Rules would enter their bodies, turning them into skeletons or zombies—new Undead Monsters.

"Perhaps they'll even get a chance to take revenge on me." Shen Mu looked at the blood sacrifices scattered across the ground, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

But there was no real amusement on Shen Mu's face.

Because he knew very well

that his troops had routed the attacking bandits and allowed them to escape. What came next would surely be retaliation from that gang—

Shen Mu also suspected that the bandits who had attacked this time might be Diesel Company Thugs!

"Only those convoy drivers from the Diesel Company would dare act so arrogantly in the Balihe Street area, robbing and killing at will."

Shen Mu snorted.

Looking at the ten-meter-wide Central Long Corridor, he had a few more ideas. The Lake Rats need to be stationed near the stairs, and Swadia's infantry and cavalry need to be moved into the Castle Hall, ready for orders at any time.

The alterations to the fifth and sixth floors, including this broad Central Long Corridor, had actually been deliberate on Shen Mu's part.

A width of ten meters could not only accommodate a Pike Square.

At critical moments,

such as when the enemy's attack was simply too fierce, the Pike Square could retreat, allowing the ten Swadian Heavy Cavalry to charge out from the castle. Five abreast and two ranks deep, they could level their nearly four-meter Cavalry Lances and launch a crushing frontal charge.

When that happened, let alone these scrawny Gnolls or squat Wild Goblins, a single charge would probably wipe them all out!

After shattering the invading enemies' formation,

whether Swadia's infantry pushed forward with a Pike Square or the Lake Rats thugs hurled their javelins before charging with axes,

they would be able to inflict even greater damage on the enemy!

"What a pity. When those guys attacked earlier, my Swadian Heavy Cavalry were still on the seventh floor. They couldn't come down, and I had no idea what was happening."

Regret filled Shen Mu's eyes. "Otherwise, my ten Swadian Heavy Cavalry alone could have crushed those invading Spiritual Realm Creatures in one wave. So many of them wouldn't have gotten away!"

If Shen Mu had known to deploy the Swadian Heavy Cavalry in the Castle Hall beforehand,

the results of the battle would certainly have been greater!

But it was too late for regrets now.

At the time, Shen Mu truly had not expected a battle to break out so suddenly, nor that his Mount & Blade soldiers would spontaneously resolve the situation and claim victory.

"Let's take another look at the buildings on the sixth and seventh floors."

Shen Mu did not dwell on it. He turned and returned to his Castle Main Building, climbing the tower's spiral staircase.

Where the sixth floor had originally been was now the Lord's Residence above the Castle Hall.

It consisted of a bedroom, a storage room, rooms with Firing Ports where Archer/Crossbowmen could be stationed, and an additionally designed balcony with crenellated walls that also allowed Archer/Crossbowmen to take up firing positions.

"On the Castle Second Floor, together with the two towers beside it, stationing around fifty Archer/Crossbowmen won't be a problem."

After inspecting the Castle Second Floor one area at a time, Shen Mu already had a plan in mind.

In particular, at the top of the Castle Second Floor was a flat terrace overlooking the entire Central Corridor before the castle, with an excellent view.

In the eyes of those in power, it was undoubtedly a fine place for speeches or parades.

But Shen Mu's eyes lit up.

"If we set up the ballistas here, wouldn't it be just like setting them up on the Stronghold Main House Rooftop? The Ballista Firing Arc could cover the entire ten-meter-wide Central Long Corridor. If we encounter enemies, the ballistas could attack right away!"

And this rooftop terrace had more than enough room for two ballistas.

Some Archer/Crossbowmen could be deployed here as well!

"Mm, this really is pretty good."

Shen Mu was quite satisfied with his idea.

After all, as long as this Apartment Building served as their base, any enemies approaching from ground level would only be able to attack through the stairs and the Central Long Corridor. They would first have to endure several rounds of arrows.

Then... they would have to face the Pike Square of the Kingdom of Swadia, second only to the Kingdom of Rhodoks.

"Perhaps there'll be a Heavy Cavalry charge as well."

Shen Mu chuckled.

Then he left the Castle Second Floor and climbed the tower's spiral staircase once more, arriving at the Stronghold Main House.

At that moment, five Swadian Footmen stood standing guard at the stairway entrance of the Stronghold Main House.

Another five Swadian Footmen sat on either side of the long table in the Stronghold Main House, waiting to rotate into guard duty.

"Lord Shen Mu."

Upon seeing Shen Mu approach, they all rose and saluted him.

"Mm." Shen Mu nodded and gestured for them to sit back down before looking toward the Wheat Field outside the Stronghold Main House.

The walls of the seventh floor had now been completely opened up. A one-and-a-half-meter passage ran through the middle of the two-mu Wheat Field, symbolizing the former corridor, while quite a few Load-bearing Columns stood throughout it, representing the forty apartment rooms that had once been evenly distributed there.

Of course, now all that remained were these two Wheat Fields, totaling two mu.

Lush wheat grew from fertile soil. One mu of Wheat Field had yet to be harvested, each distinct ear of wheat drooping gently as a breeze blew in through the windows, bringing a soft rustling sound.

The passing breeze also carried the fragrance of wheat.

Shen Mu walked over.

He saw the Halflings running joyfully through the field, their expressions and movements filled with excitement.

Even Liu Na had removed the black robe and hood she always wore. Barefoot on the fertile soil, she knelt beside a ridge in the Wheat Field, cradling the thick, ripe wheat that was ready for harvest. Her pale, pretty face was filled with immersed happiness.

"This is nature! This is nature!"

Halfling Elder Polo excitedly said beside her, "Miss Liu Na, feel this nature. Perhaps you can condense a Druid Heart and become a true, respected level 3 druid!"

"I can already feel it... the love I have for this nature, inside my mind." Liu Na murmured, an excited flush on her face.

"Thank you, Lord Shen Mu, for your merciful acceptance!"

At this moment, the Halflings noticed Shen Mu's arrival. One after another, they hurriedly rose and bowed to him.

Including Liu Na, who hastily stood up, her face bright red as she lowered her head, too embarrassed to look at anyone.

And Elder Polo, who was highly excited beside her.

They no longer carried the helplessness they had felt when they were confined earlier.

Instead, their hearts were filled with excitement and admiration.

There was still reverence, of course.

But when they looked at Shen Mu now, their eyes shone. Every one of them deeply admired this young man who had obtained the Lord Inheritance and become a Spiritual Realm Lord!

"Mm." Shen Mu smiled. "It seems you really like these two mu of Wheat Field."

"Of course!" Elder Polo said excitedly. "We Halflings love the Wheat Fields and orchards of manors, and we also love this peaceful life!"

"Then I will give you these things." Shen Mu smiled and nodded again. "And whether it's future orchards or the current Wheat Fields, I'll also need you to help with harvesting and planting, to share some of the work of the commoners."

"Of course we will!" Elder Polo once again bowed with a hand over his chest. "It is our honor!"

"It is our honor!"

The Halflings all bowed, incredibly excited. Their attitude toward Shen Mu had shifted from reluctant outward compliance to a wholehearted willingness to follow him!

"Very good." Shen Mu nodded in satisfaction.

Now that he had revealed his wheat trump card, he had clearly truly won over these Halflings.

That was very good.

"Hey, Miss Liu Na, show Lord Shen Mu your druid power."

At this moment, Elder Polo reached out and tugged at Liu Na, who was still standing awkwardly at the side, her face red as she lowered her head and dared not speak. "The Druidic Power that lets plants grow better—that magical power!"

"Ah?" Liu Na finally understood. They wanted her to demonstrate her value.

Liu Na slowly extended her small hand, and a green sphere of light began to gather in her palm.

Buzz!

A special ripple instantly began spreading from Liu Na's body, extending into the surroundings, especially into the two-mu Wheat Field.

Even everyone present—whether Shen Mu, the Halflings, or the two Swadian Footmen following Shen Mu—could vaguely sense it...

After this special ripple spread across the Wheat Field, what it revealed was actually a feeling of pleasure and joy!

At that moment, however, a dialogue box appeared before Shen Mu once again.

Ding! You have received the blessing of "Will of Nature (Fragment)"! Your body has become healthier!

Because you have received the blessing of "Will of Nature (Fragment)," your Character Template will align with the "nature path" during upgrades.

A similar mysterious power from Pendor World (Fantasy MOD) is responding to you in the unseen.

Please upgrade your Character Template promptly.