City of Hope

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	City of Hope (希望之城)
Alias(es)	Clock Tower City; Hope City; “Promised Land”
Affiliation	Xiao Yang and the Land of Hope
Occupation/Role	Xiao Yang’s second Stronghold; refuge, administrative center, and expeditionary base in the Land of Rot
Status	Active
First Appearance	307

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Second Stronghold established	307	Xiao Yang claimed the emptied Clock Tower City after the Silver Tree withdrew, renamed it City of Hope, and reinforced the barrier between Plane 33214 and the Land of Rot; contact between the worlds was delayed by one year.
Territory Domination era	352	The game mode shifted from solo adventure to Territory Domination as Lost Ones, military forces, and refugees began joining the city.
Stronghold upgrade	384	Dungeon Cores increased resource output, enlarged the area affected by city buildings and Stronghold buffs, and added an administrator slot.
Megacity-scale expansion	490	Repeated expansions made the city an “unparalleled megacity”; Snake People Street lay on the outskirts of its central district.

History

Founding

Xiao Yang claimed the abandoned Clock Tower City after the Silver Tree withdrew its Corruptors, then established it as his second Stronghold. Its original assets included a large library and a dilapidated clock tower classified as a Special Building 307.

At the Gate of Opening, Xiao Yang formally renamed the settlement City of Hope, opened it to those who had not surrendered to Evil Gods, and promised refuge to all entrants. The announcement was initially met with confusion and skepticism, though survivors later began arriving to seek protection 308.

The city’s earliest confirmed protection came from the Statue of the Goddess of Repose, whose domain shielded residents from the terrors of the Land of Rot’s night 308.

Settlement and expansion

The Snake People were among the city’s early arrivals. Their Grand Priest eventually became the agricultural supervisor, while the Snake People established a lasting community within the city 336 351.

The arrival of Wild Elves, Half-Dragons, and human refugees transformed the Stronghold into a multi-racial settlement. Wild Elves offered warriors, war beasts, priests, and military support; Half-Dragons provided Dragon Vein Sorcerers, Dragon Blood Warriors, Dragon Blood Flowers, and mercenary powerhouses 352.

City of Hope accepted refugees without demanding compensation, stabilized spatial channels through the Dungeon Gate, and planned to clear surrounding wilderness for farmland and further housing 352. Its population later expanded through Lost One immigration, anchored worlds, and settlements across the wider Land of Hope 436 580.

Later development

The city became a center for trade, Magic Energy industry, military recruitment, and interworld cooperation. Its Gate of Planes received machinery and materials, while its industrial system processed ore and manufactured components through a cross-world supply loop 500.

By the time of the alliance between the Universal Federation and Qingxuan Realm, Hope City General Store served as the public hub for their cooperation and planned campaign against Wraith Cave 544.

Administration

• Xiao Yang — Founder and City Lord. He retains ultimate control over the Stronghold, military direction, city expansion, and major laws 307 384 449.
• Lena — Chief administrator and de facto city manager. She manages resources, expansion, public institutions, recruitment, and wartime mobilization, particularly during Xiao Yang’s absences 399 414 519.
• City of Hope United City-State Management Committee — Governing body integrating the city’s surrounding city-states, villages, and reclamation points within the Land of Hope 580.
• City Stability Force — Security organization that apprehends disruptive interworld arrivals 556.

Landmarks and facilities

Location / Facility	Function
Central Plaza	Originally cleared to house the Statue of the Goddess of Repose and Flesh Eye Tower; it later became the city’s primary gathering place and an informal site of faith 627.
Statue of the Goddess of Repose	Protects the city from nighttime terrors and serves as a focal point for residents, Wraith Maidservants, and the awakened obsessions of the past 308 353.
Flesh Eye Tower	A major defensive structure watched even by visiting parties at the central fountain; its presence deters normal gods from attacking the city directly 351 358.
Central Fountain / Fountain of Abundance	Houses the damaged Horn of Plenty and the God of Springs. Its water supports residents and irrigates farmland through underground channels 338 365.
Hero Statue	A towering statue of Xiao Yang that became a civic and religious symbol. Residents rally before it with the cry “For Hope!” 320 408.
City of Hope Tavern / Revelry Black Rye Tavern	A gathering place for explorers, Lost Ones, and visiting factions; Black Rye Wine is used to numb the strain of wilderness expeditions 358 365 399.
Hero Cemetery	Burial site and Special Building capable of raising obedient undead from those buried within it. It later became the nurturing site of the Heroic Spirit Banner 419 537.
Pioneer Fortress	Supply base outside the city for wilderness explorers and defenders; it endured a day-long Merman assault shortly after its construction 436.
Corrupted Wall	A wall section built using the Wall Blueprint; it slowly repairs itself 436.
Hope City General Store	Xiao Yang’s directly controlled store in the interworld trading district and a venue for diplomacy between allied realms 544.

Population

City of Hope gathers groups that would otherwise remain isolated across the Land of Rot:

• Survivors — The city’s earliest residents and core population. Many bear mutations or contamination but became the most fervent supporters of Xiao Yang 337 504.
• Snake People — Early settlers who integrated into city life, developed Snake People Street, and celebrated one year since arriving in the Land of Rot 490.
• Wraith Maidservants — Connected to the Statue of the Goddess of Repose and involved in recruitment and city operations 309 353.
• Wild Elves — Contributors of raptor cavalry archers, priests, war beasts, and elite warriors 352 504.
• Half-Dragons — Providers of Dragon Vein Sorcerers, Dragon Blood Warriors, rare resources, and mercenary support 352.
• Lost Ones — Immigrants from displaced or collapsing worlds, including farmers, laborers, soldiers, prisoners, and powerful mercenaries 352 399 463.
• Heroic Spirits — Dead warriors nurtured in the Hero Cemetery; they are prohibited from directly meeting the living and are managed through city authorities 537.

Defense and military

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army was named by Xiao Yang during the conquest of Blackstone City. It became City of Hope’s principal expeditionary force and includes survivors, Lost Ones, young Transcendent Enlightenment Class graduates, and allied racial units 410 519.

• Operates alongside Wild Elf Raptor Cavalry Archers, priests, Mechanical Mages, and heavy steel war machines 504.
• Uses criminals and thieves at the front line under regulations that reduce sentences according to battlefield performance and contributions 504.
• Includes the survivor vanguard known as the Blood Army, whose fighters are exceptionally capable but suffer high casualties due to their self-destructive fearlessness 504.
• Fielded an expeditionary force of thirteen thousand for the advance on Blackstone City 408.

City defense

The city has repeatedly endured attacks by War Shadows, Cultists, monsters, and Evil Gods’ forces.

• During the War Shadow assault, civilians and returning Lost Ones defended the walls while the Statue of the Goddess of Repose expended power to protect them 414.
• The God of Springs provided healing rain during the battle, while Imperial Soldiers and the Earth Explorer helped counter the Avatar of the God of War 414.
• The city’s defenders ultimately turned the tide against the War Shadows as Xiao Yang defeated the God of War’s avatar 417.
• The Hero Cemetery can raise buried dead as obedient skeletons for combat, though these undead do not retain their former identities 419.
• Heroic Spirits patrol sewers and other contaminated areas that ordinary defenders struggle to manage 536 537.

Economy and public welfare

• Agriculture — The central fountain irrigates fields beyond the city walls. Pollution remains a major obstacle, with much wheat turning black despite purified spring water and blessings 365.
• Food — The city provides free morning meat soup and later achieved sufficient harvests for survivors to bake black bread 365 414.
• Industry — The Industrial Zone processes Transcendent ore and supports the developing Magic Energy industry through Gate of Planes logistics 500.
• Trade — City of Hope operates a triangle trade: it buys resources from settlers, sells them to Lost Ones, and purchases Magic Energy weapons in return 449.
• Currency — The city, Lost Ones, and gods jointly issue credit currency known commonly as Gold Coins 478.
• Labor protections — Xiao Yang instituted the Labor Law and Minor Labor Management Regulations, requiring reasonable compensation and protection of life 449 451.
• Contracts — Lost Ones who do not violate city law may only be bound by contracts of up to three years; their safety and rights are protected by city intervention 463.
• Humanitarian care — Heavy laborers receive free candy during breaks, while schools receive most of the city’s candy procurement 500.

Culture and civic life

The city’s shared identity centers on Xiao Yang as its “Great Hero” and the idea of hope. Residents commonly gather at his statue, offer goods for the needy, and repeat the city’s rallying cry 408 463.

“For Hope!” 408

The Hope Daily publishes city news, publicizes rallies, and circulates across City of Hope’s sphere of influence. Its reporting has promoted labor regulations, education expansion, child subsidies, and standardized contracts 549 562.

A grand celebration was held to strengthen Xiao Yang’s connection with the population and consecrate the Holy Grail through faith power. During the procession, residents and gods gathered to witness Xiao Yang’s appearance, while a new statue was built beyond the city 463 464.

Relationships

• Xiao Yang — Founder, City Lord, and central symbol of faith; his decisions, authority, and protection define the city’s growth 307 562.
• Lena — Chief administrator responsible for daily operations, wartime leadership, public policy, and expansion 399 414 519.
• Statue of the Goddess of Repose — Defensive and spiritual centerpiece that protects residents at night and enables limited dream meetings between heroic spirits and the living 308 537.
• God of Springs — Bound to the central fountain and responsible for much of the city’s water supply; its purified water supports agriculture and healing 338 414 490.
• Silver Tree and Silver Thorn — Allied through an agreement exchanging Well of Purity water for Silver Branches, with the Silver Thorn joining City of Hope’s reclamation effort 376.
• Snake People — Early residents whose Grand Priest oversees agriculture and whose community established Snake People Street 351 490.
• Universal Federation and Qingxuan Realm — Allied powers whose leaders publicly pledged cooperation at Hope City General Store 544.
• God of Radiance — Later entrusted with the city’s protection during Xiao Yang’s absence 575.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Establishment of the second Stronghold — Xiao Yang claims Clock Tower City, names it City of Hope, and delays the interworld contact deadline 307.
• Refuge for survivors — The city opens its gates to people who reject Evil Gods and proves safe against the Land of Rot’s nighttime threats 308.
• Arrival of Lost Ones — Wild Elves, Half-Dragons, human refugees, and other displaced groups make City of Hope a multi-racial power 351 352.
• War against the God of War — City defenders withstand War Shadows and an avatar’s assault, securing a major victory 414 417.
• Expansion into the Land of Hope — The Salvation Army advances against Blackstone City and later Wraith Cave, turning the city into the base for wider reclamation 408 504.
• Faith and Hope Authority — Public rallies, civic reforms, and the city’s collective belief converge at the Dawn Lantern’s tower, where the outline of a higher-tier Hope Authority begins to form 549.
• United city-state governance — City of Hope becomes the core of a wider Land of Hope administration encompassing surrounding settlements and reclamation points 580.