Summoning Monsters

The Chaos Tide would recede in less than half a day.

The adventurers looked utterly dejected, their desires unfulfilled.

Since they had exhausted their Adventurer Stamina early, business for the day was declared over ahead of schedule.

Black Stone Hammer King said, "What's going on today? There's still nearly half the City Opening time left, and everyone's already used up all their stamina?!"

Sleeping in the Wind said, "It is pretty ridiculous!"

Pig King said, "Aaaah, I haven't played nearly enough! I still want to chop Zombies! I'd be fine even just watching others play!"

Wool Warrior said, "Exactly! Every second feels like a year—how am I supposed to get through this? I feel like I'm already having withdrawal symptoms!"

Silly Goose said, "Me too. It's way too addictive. I've never had this feeling before."

White Little Deer said, "The secret realm in Miracle City is definitely poisonous!"

"..."

This bunch had become severely addicted to Miracle City.

Whenever their gaming addiction hit, even going a moment without playing made them feel miserable all over!

Qi Ji had been right not to immediately add more Secret Realm Crystals. Miracle City's current Daily Reception limit was only 160, and it had already filled up the moment the gates opened today. Once this batch of adventurers exhausted their stamina, it would be useless even if they called in more people.

Very soon.

The adventurers, whose gaming cravings had flared up.

And who had nowhere to vent them.

All turned their complaints toward Boss Qi.

Cat MeowMeow said, "Personally, I think Lord Qi is building the Dungeon far too slowly. With such pathetic reception capacity, does he even want to make big money? Does he still want to become a great lord?"

"Exactly!"

"How can 160 people possibly be enough?"

"I'd say it needs to be at least 1,600!"

Black Stone Hammer King said, "I heard that powerful Dungeons aren't just large-scale—they also have facilities that help adventurers recover their stamina. There's no supporting infrastructure here at all. Is that reasonable?"

The adventurers were preparing to form a group and interrogate the lord.

Sleeping in the Wind spoke up at this moment. "Everyone, calm down. Miracle City has only existed for a week, and it's only been officially open for four days. Reaching this scale already is outstanding."

"What?"

"Four days?!"

Several adventurers who had entered Miracle City for the first time.

And knew little about this Dungeon.

Were astonished.

Bright Moon Reflecting Snow said, "Developing to this extent in four days is already amazing. Cat Meng, you all should stop making things difficult for the lord."

Lonely Swordsman nodded. "I believe this Dungeon will rise very quickly, and all kinds of supporting facilities will be built soon."

To keep a few troublemakers from stirring up trouble.

Several adventurers stepped forward to speak for the lord.

They planned to develop in Miracle City for the long term, so they could not afford to make Lord Qi unhappy over such trivial matters.

It was actually rare for adventurers to speak up for a lord.

After all, most adventurers came and went freely. Their relationship with lords was more like gamblers and bookies—always openly and secretly competing, mutually suspicious and guarded, even cheating and deceiving each other in all sorts of ways. Their relations were hardly good.

Black Stone Hammer King said, "I was just complaining."

"Yeah, as some of the earliest adventurers, how could we not know this city's potential for development?"

Cat MeowMeow said, "Aren't we just pushing Lord Qi to do better? So he doesn't get complacent and slack off after making a little money lately."

"..."

"Buying alcohol and beverages, buying Chocolate and Instant Noodles, buying all kinds of Miracle City supplies. Anyone who wants to sell, come find me now."

"I got a Huazi drop today!"

"What? A Huazi! That's good stuff! Brother, you hit the jackpot!"

"Selling it?"

"..."

After the adventurers made a racket for a while, they did not leave the Dungeon. Instead, they turned the hall into a marketplace and began trading supplies.

It had to be said.

All kinds of seemingly ordinary supplies.

Were one of Miracle City's greatest competitive advantages.

From Cola, instant noodles, and Chocolate to Beer, Moutai, and Huazi, the quality of these supplies far surpassed those from other Dungeons. Even if they did not want to use them themselves, they could sell them to a few big buyers to subsidize their living expenses.

"These guys won't even go home after playing. They're all crammed in here making a racket."

Qi Ji looked disgusted.

Yet there was nothing he could do about the adventurers lingering in Miracle City.

After all, the time to close the city had not arrived yet. He could not exactly throw them out by force, could he? It was necessary to keep expanding the scale and speed up the improvement of various basic facilities, so that adventurers would have other things to do after challenging the secret realm—preferably things that continued generating value.

Qi Ji had Nan Xi Li Ya deal with the adventurers.

Then opened the trading market.

And found Lord 0340.

Qi Ji directly sent a message.

"Friend, the Zombie Soul Essence you wanted has been sorted out."

After waiting roughly two and a half hours.

Lord 0340 finally replied with an explanation. "Sorry, I was busy fighting the locusts in my territory during City Opening time, so I only just saw your message. We can trade immediately."

Without wasting any time.

Qi Ji completed the transaction.

He exchanged 85 Common Zombie Essence Souls for 1 Inn Blueprint.

The Adventurer Inn was a good thing. It increased the reception limit by 100 at once and could keep a batch of adventurers in the territory overnight.

However, the construction cost was not low.

It required 300 Soul Crystals, 150 Mental Strength, and 150 First Order Material Essence.

Soul Crystals.

Mental Strength.

Neither was a problem.

But his material reserves were insufficient.

Qi Ji did not want to leave this blueprint overnight.

Because the population growth brought by a building would only take effect when the city opened the next day. The sooner he built the inn, the sooner the territory's income could increase by another day.

There were currently at least two options.

The first was to purchase Material Essence or First Order Materials from the trading market, then gather the 150 portions needed for construction.

The second was to assemble a force after Miracle City's secret realm closed and head outside to gather materials.

The former would cost quite a few Soul Crystals!

Miracle City's current financial situation was not exactly abundant.

There were still many construction needs left unfinished in the territory.

For example, upgrading the core, the City Wall, and building basic facilities such as the Warehouse and Arrow Towers.

Therefore, he needed to find as many additional resources as possible, while saving his existing resources whenever he could.

Qi Ji was familiar with the map and understood the surrounding environment. Though 150 portions of Material Essence was no small amount, it would absolutely not pose a problem.

At present.

He had several dozen Common Zombie Essence Souls.

As well as one Hunter, Smoker, Boomer, Jockey, and Tank each.

Qi Ji planned to recruit 25 Riot Zombie Temporary Workers, as well as one Hunter and one Smoker Temporary Worker, to form an expedition force.

Of course.

This time, the target.

Was more troublesome than Red Claw Village.

This combat strength would not be enough!

He had to invest the Tank Zombie Essence Soul!

This Soul Essence was quite valuable. Qi Ji did not plan to use it for a Temporary Worker, but intended to place it in the Monster Camp and turn it into permanent combat strength.

You are summoning "Tank Zombie." This summoning requires "Mental Strength" ×100, "Soul Crystals" ×50, and "Tank Essence Soul" ×1. Continue? Yes/No!

"Summon!"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A series of heavy footsteps rang out.

The adventurers suddenly heard a violent and familiar roar.

A humanoid monster standing two and a half meters tall, its muscles like heavy armor, emerged from the Monster Camp and came before the hall, leaving everyone dumbfounded and speechless.

"Tank!"

"It's a Tank!"

"Lord Qi directly summoned a Tank!"

"..."

Monsters directly summoned from the Dungeon building, the Monster Barracks, were one type of regular troop in the territory. Unlike disposable Temporary Workers, they could remain stationed in the territory.

Although the cost was high.

As long as it did not die.

It could be used indefinitely.

If Qi Ji built the corresponding structures, he could also modify, strengthen, and upgrade it.

The greater the number and strength of these regular troops, the more they would enhance the lord's personal abilities in the future. They were one of the important foundations of both the territory and its lord!

Walking out of the manor.

Qi Ji stood beside the Tank.

The violent giant monster.

Had become as docile as a puppy at this moment.

None of the creatures summoned by Dungeons possessed intelligence—or rather, they had no independent will. They were absolutely loyal to the lord and absolutely obedient to his commands!

Irritable Little Chicken's eyes lit up. "Awesome! So awesome! Fucking awesome!"

Black Stone Hammer King said, "My lord, why did you let Big Muscle Tyrant out? Are you planning to go out and fight again tonight?"

"That's right!"

Boss Qi did not beat around the bush.

He directly announced to everyone:

"I received intelligence that there is a Goblin Mine not far from Red Claw Village."

"This lord plans to take it. This Tank will be the main force in the battle. I also need to recruit 27 Mercenaries. Everyone is welcome to sign up and contribute to the territory!"

At the same time.

All adventurers.

Received a quest notification.

----
Quest Name: Mercenary Operation!

Quest Details: Miracle City plans to recruit 27 Mercenaries, including 25 Zombies, 1 Hunter, and 1 Smoker!

Quest Reward: 5 Contribution Points!

Special Notice: If the adventurers playing the Hunter and Smoker die during this operation, they will receive no rewards.