"Ha-ha, so every time the Village Building Order levels up, it comes with buildings and population! I'm finally saved."
Zhang Yang was so happy he nearly burst into tears. Was it easy for him to gather enough people to work the fields?
This time, however, he chose very carefully. After all, he had to consider the village's future development as a whole. That Village Building mission lasting three hundred years was truly deadly.
Especially since he could only personally steer things for twenty years. The following two hundred and eighty years would most likely be little more than a cutscene. If the succeeding village chief did something foolish then, all he could do was stare helplessly in desperation. So no matter what, he had to lay a solid foundation for the village, even if it meant slowing his own growth in strength.
"A Level 5 Residential House is a must. Twenty households—if each family has four people, that's a full eighty residents. Then I can uncheck the Herbal Medicine Shop, uncheck the Arrow Tower, uncheck the Military Armory, and uncheck the Warehouse too. I have plenty of monster meat in my hands anyway."
"Hmm, for the rest, should I choose the Blacksmith Shop, the Artisan Camp, or the Farmland?"
Zhang Yang was in a quandary. He had suffered terribly from not having enough people, so naturally he wanted more population now. But the other two options were important too.
"Fine, I'll choose the Farmland. Having twenty-five farmers come with it is crucial. As for artisans, I still have three recruitment slots. At worst, I'll use them all to recruit artisans. At worst, I'll personally go out and work as an artisan."
After agonizing for several seconds, Zhang Yang gritted his teeth and made his decision. He absolutely could not make the same population mistake again. Without enough people, he would truly cry himself to death.
Once he finished choosing, the Village Building Order's upgrade interface automatically vanished, leaving behind only a countdown.
Only then did Zhang Yang have time to leave the Wood Demon Tower and inspect the weapons captured in the previous battle—or, more accurately, that hero-grade weapon, the Giant Wolf Tooth Club.
Hmm, there was no way to fit this thing inside the Village Building Order's space, so it was still lying outside.
Zhang Yang took one look at it and decided not to bother with it. There was no helping it—it was too heavy. It was ten meters long and two meters in diameter, with at least half of it cast from steel. In short, this hero-grade weapon left him deeply disappointed because none of his subordinates could use it. Just look at these stats.
Giant Wolf Tooth Club Hero-Grade Weapon Quality: White Weapon Damage: 3900 Weapon Usage Requirement: Strength attribute of B- or higher.
"Leave it there. Once the Blacksmith Shop is built, I'll melt it down." Zhang Yang curled his lip. This thing had not even been enough to make the Golden Scales appear, which showed just how stupidly bulky and crude it was.
Turning around, Zhang Yang ordered all the soldiers to assemble. Next, he would use demon souls to enhance them. There were fourteen candidates in total, while he currently had twelve Elite Archers, eight Elite Spearmen, and seven Elite Sword and Shield Soldiers. He had to think this through carefully.
"We greet you, Village Chief."
The soldiers quickly assembled and respectfully saluted Zhang Yang.
"Song Dachui, Liu Dali, Qin Yidao, Sun Goudan, Wang Mumu, step forward!"
Zhang Yang first called out five people. These five had performed the best in the previous battle. Song Dachui, for example, had rushed over at the final moment and used the Imprisonment Spear to help him deliver the finishing blow to the Deer Demon. That assist had been divine, so he had to be a priority for development.
As for Wang Mumu, that Elite Sword and Shield Soldier had been the one who saved Zhang Yang's life amid the melee—and had even been injured because of it. He too had to receive priority training.
The remaining three were all Elite Archers, the three who possessed the Red Hawk Battle Rune. They also had to be upgraded to Captain-Level Soldiers first.
"Wu Yuan, come over and help me think this through. I currently have one intact Mountain Monster Demon Soul and one intact Lord-Grade Demon Soul. Which type of soldier do you think I should mainly enhance?"
Zhang Yang asked him then. He now placed great importance on Wu Yuan's advice. For instance, Wu Yuan had previously suggested that he use the Imprisonment Spear himself. That intuition was simply unmatched.
Wu Yuan was stunned. In fact, all the soldiers froze, looking utterly incredulous. Clearly, they all knew how useful and important demon souls were.
"Village Chief, this matter is of immense importance. What virtue or ability do I have to—"
"Cut the crap. When you had me experience that so-called awe before, why didn't you say anything about having no virtue or ability? Just tell me what you know. If anyone else has a better suggestion, say it too. Don't act like a bunch of women."
Zhang Yang cursed at him. This fellow was far too sly.
This time, before Wu Yuan could say anything, Song Dachui was already shouting from the side:
"Village Chief, can I use that wolf-toothed club?"
"Shut up. The odds of you being able to use it are pitifully low." Wu Yuan shouted, silencing the many excited soldiers. There was no helping it—even NPCs feared death. If they could increase their strength, why would they refuse? Besides, they weren't NPCs!
After clearing his throat, Wu Yuan said solemnly, "Village Chief, in my view, that Mountain Monster's demon soul can all be used to enhance the Sword and Shield Soldiers, people like Song Dachui. At the same time, during the enhancement, we can include that wolf-toothed club as well. If any of them has a high compatibility with the Mountain Monster, perhaps the wolf-toothed club can be strengthened too—but the odds are extremely low."
"As for the Deer Demon Lord's demon soul, Village Chief, are you sure you don't want to use it yourself? That Deer Demon has already been confirmed to possess several powerful summoning spells."
Wu Yuan asked earnestly.
"Stop rambling. If I'd decided to use it myself, why would I be asking you?" Zhang Yang impatiently waved his hand. Damn it, if only I didn't have so few people... No, forget it. Don't mention population.
"If that's the case, I recommend using the Deer Demon Lord's demon soul entirely to enhance the Elite Archers. I feel that the Elite Archers have better compatibility with the Deer Demon soul."
"You feel? You merely feel?" Zhang Yang asked.
"Yes, Village Chief. In matters like enhancing soldiers with demon souls, all other factors are unimportant. The most important thing is compatibility. If you don't believe me, take out the two demon souls and let them sense them. One try will tell us."
Wu Yuan looked extremely confident.
"Then there's no need to try." Zhang Yang waved his hand and answered briskly. He had originally intended to ask Wu Yuan for his advice.
"Song Dachui, Wang Mumu, Duan Kuan, Zhou Datou, the four of you Elite Sword and Shield Soldiers go bring that wolf-toothed club over. In a moment, we'll see which of you fellows has the luck to use it."
"As for that Great Horned Deer Lord's demon soul, it can enhance ten people in total. Then we'll leave six slots for Elite Archers and four slots for Elite Spearmen."
Zhang Yang was brimming with spirit. Enhancing fourteen Captain-Level Soldiers in one go—his village's combat strength would immediately multiply several times over.
"Village Chief, I have something to say!"
This time, it was Qin Yidao, an Elite Archer, who urgently shouted, "Can the six of us Elite Archers postpone our enhancement? We want to make some proper arrows first, then undergo the enhancement. You know that without arrows, our combat strength as archers is basically reduced to zero."
"Oh? What exactly do you mean? Do you need anything?" Zhang Yang was in an excellent mood, so naturally he would grant any reasonable request.
"Thank you, Village Chief! The Village Chief is wise!"
Qin Yidao had actually learned how to flatter people. But his next words immediately revealed the fox's tail. "The feather arrows we want to make need all the Red Eagle feathers for fletching, all the wolf teeth, bear teeth, and leopard teeth for arrowheads, and Wu Yuan to shave the most suitable arrow shafts for us. Only then will the Eagle Feather Armor-Piercing Arrows we produce be the best."
"Good! No problem!"
Zhang Yang agreed without a second word, because he also wanted to know whether Captain-Level Archers would still be just as useless.
Before you continue