Market Construction Blueprint

The unknown is what truly tugs at the heartstrings.

Zong Shen walked up to the treasure chest and reached out to touch it gently.

He looked at the [Click to Open] prompt that appeared before him.

He clicked to open it directly.

Immediately, the treasure chest slowly creaked open.

Several orbs of light representing rewards emerged.

[Black Iron Treasure Chest opened successfully]

[Market Construction Blueprint ×1]

[Refined Wheat Bread ×10]

[Crafted Rum ×10]

[Sharp Germanic Sword ×1]

[Wooden Shield Blueprint ×1]

There were five rewards in total.

Two of them were food.

Another two were blueprints; one was a construction blueprint, and the other was a crafting blueprint.

The last item was a longsword.

Zong Shen first grabbed the longsword to examine it.

[Sharp Germanic Sword]

[One-handed/Two-handed]

[Quality: Common]

[Slashing Damage: 29/33 (One/Two-handed)]

[Piercing Damage: 23]

[Attack Range: 80]

[Attack Speed: +8%]

[Durability: 120]

[Strength Required: 8]

Good heavens, this is much better than the damaged-quality rusty sword in Zong Shen's own hands; not only can it be used one-handed, but it can also be wielded as a two-handed sword.

He immediately put away the rusty sword and equipped the Sharp Germanic Sword.

Then, he began his daily inspection routine.

[Simple Wooden Shield Blueprint]

[Can be used to craft a Simple Wooden Shield]

[Simple Wooden Shield]

[Quality: Common]

[Shield Defense: 35]

[Crafting Requirements: Wood ×6, Hemp ×2]

[Crafting Time: 10m]

The stats are very mediocre for basic equipment, not even as good as the damaged-quality Kite Shield Zong Shen already has.

However, it is simple to craft and doesn't require many materials, so he could consider making a few as transitional gear for the farmers to defend themselves.

[Refined Wheat Bread]

[Delicious Refined Wheat Bread]

[Effect: Restores 50 points of Satiety]

(Decent food; it would be even better if there were some milk.)

[Crafted Rum]

[Refined Rum]

[Effect: Attack +10%, Defense -20%, Duration 30m]

(Rum brewed through multiple processes; if you happen to encounter the Dwarf Race, buying them a glass of rum could earn you their friendship.)

Food is also one of the supplies that Zong Shen is currently in short supply of.

Especially now that the population of his territory is increasing rapidly.

Food is an especially important basic material guarantee.

Next is the water resource.

Water, food, and safety.

These are the three most fundamental elements for survival.

You must know, his main purpose for coming out this time was to search for a water source.

However, it does not matter; he plans to ask the Strategy Guide on his way back later.

He put all four rewards into his storage slots.

Next, only one construction blueprint remained.

[Market Construction Blueprint ×1]

[Quality: Common (White)]

[Requirements: Wood ×20, Iron ×8, Hemp Rope ×3, Market Construction Blueprint ×1]

[Construction Time: 1h 36m (reduced by 20% via Engineering)]

[Footprint: 10 square meters]

[Durability: 500]

[Armor: 10]

[Market: Allows trading with other lords; the current level can list up to three items for sale simultaneously]

A blueprint for a market had dropped, and the resources required for construction were not many; soon, he would be able to trade with other lords who had built markets.

After stowing away all the rewards.

Zong Shen stood up and looked at the now empty treasure chest.

[Black Iron Treasure Chest]

[Click to dismantle]

"Dismantle."

[Obtained Iron ×10]

Another wave of resources was in his hands.

"Are there any other supplies in this camp?"

Zong Shen posed the question in his mind.

(You are practically a passing locust; you manage to clean this place out completely even without my guidance.)

Looking at this prompt that sounded like a compliment but was actually a jab, Zong Shen rolled his eyes.

"Fine, then the next question."

"Where is there potable water? The closer to the camp, the better!"

(This is no difficult task. In fact, less than three miles to the north of your territory, there is a clear and safe stream. Forty-seven miles to the southwest, there is a lake, though some ill-tempered fellows have occupied it. Fifty-two miles south of this camp, there is a swamp, though it is neither clear nor safe.)

The Strategy Module provided several choices all at once.

Zong Shen examined them briefly and realized there was a small stream not far from his territory.

It seemed returning to the territory first was the most reliable option.

"Are there any treasures or precious resources worth finding near this camp?"

(Beneath this camp lies a massive Azshara ruin, which contains some very interesting things. However, the workload is immense; you can consider coming here to excavate once you have sufficient manpower.)

(Thirteen miles west of the camp is a small patch of forest containing a Silver Treasure Chest, though a few sturdy Bear Monster are inside.)

(Walk out of the camp to the right, take one hundred steps, and dig down; you will unearth some small surprises.)

The Strategy Module instantly offered three suggestions.

With the Strategy Module, Zong Shen wished he could operate an excavator.

To become a true digger.

Digging wherever he went.

A sack full with every dig.

Less talk, more action.

Of these three options, the only one Zong Shen could choose was the small surprise one hundred steps to the right of the camp.

The other two were not things Zong Shen could handle on his own.

Thus, he followed the location indicated by the prompt, walked out of the camp, and moved 100 steps to the right.

He swung his pickaxe down.

To his surprise, he dug up a leather wallet.

Zong Shen picked up the wallet.

He took a closer look.

[Traveler's Wallet]

[Coins +430]

Well, that's a nice little surprise.

Come to think of it, since choosing his background, he had already obtained some "money."

However, up until now, he had yet to discover where exactly this money should be used.

It should be that he needs to make contact with the indigenous factions of this continent before he can use it.

He put the money away.

Money does not occupy inventory slots.

It has a separate storage space.

But once taken out and materialized, it becomes individual copper coins.

Zong Shen lowered his head and glanced at the watch on his wrist.

This was the only item that had come with him upon his arrival.

The time was already past three in the afternoon.

He had better hurry back.

By the time he finished collecting water, it would be dark.

Next, he would build some basic structures.

Once the Wolf Cavalry returned, he would see if Colby had discovered anything valuable during this trip.

Tomorrow, there would be eleven farmers gathering resources simultaneously.

Zong Shen mounted the Old Travel Horse and headed back toward the territory.

He pondered his upcoming arrangements and plans as he rode.

This was the first day since his arrival!

It seemed to have gone quite smoothly.

Not only did he have food and water.

He had also gained two powerful soldiers and eight farmers.

With the increase in population, the 230-square-meter usable area of the Lord's Courtyard was starting to feel cramped.

It seemed that tomorrow or the day after, he would need to expand the territory's range.

With his current strength, he should be capable of dealing with ten random hostile targets within a five-kilometer radius.