The expansion project started in the early morning of the third day.
Defense Clan's craftsmen arrived before dawn.
Niu Gao personally led the team, and more than twenty tribesmen stood at the entrance of the valley carrying tools.
He saw Chen Jieqi coming out of the chapel, cupping his fists and cupping his hands.
"Earl, I have measured the square you mentioned.
The open space around the crack is fifty feet in diameter and paved with bluestones, with a six-foot-high altar in the middle.
The construction period is six months, and the stone will be transported from the quarry."
He spread out a new sketch showing the layout of the circular square.
In the center is a raised circular platform with radial patterns carved around it.
Chen Jieqi looked at the sketch and nodded. "Just do it this way."
"The amount of stone is large, so more manpower is needed." Niu Gao put away the drawing.
"But if you give me enough materials and people, I can guarantee that it will be completed within six months."
Chen Jieqi nodded. "Chief of the hard-working Niu clan."
"Why bother?" Niu Gao grinned, "It would be great to have a live joint. Not everyone is not afraid of the Spirit Hall."
The villagers from Dawnlight Village also came.
The old man couldn't move the stones, so he boiled water and cooked porridge near the construction site.
Women helped carry small pieces of wood, and children ran around outside the construction site.
After being scolded by an adult, he retreated and came out again after a while.
The yellow dog squatted beside the construction site, sticking out its tongue, as if supervising the work.
When Dugu Yan rushed over from Heaven Dou City, the sun had already risen above our heads.
She did not bring any entourage, but rode a horse, carrying several bundles on its back.
"This is the seal map sent by the Ministry of Industry."
She took out a piece of parchment from the bundle and spread it on the stone platform.
"East Foothills has a radius of thirty miles, extending from the mine to Bluestone Ridge in the north, Guandao in the south, Cangmang Mountain Range in the west, and Whitewater River in the east.
It's all yours."
Chen Jieqi glanced at the map.
The boundaries of the fiefdom are outlined in red circles, and mines, woodlands, streams, and several abandoned villages are marked.
"Heaven Dou Empire is the first real knighthood in the year of weak crown." Dugu Yan closes the map,
"Xue Ye really spent money."
"The message in Heaven Dou City." She handed another baggage to Chen Jieqi,
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is asking about you. Ning Fengzhi sent someone to ask Dugu Manor, and they directly said that you were in seclusion."
Chen Jieqi took the baggage but did not open it.
"Sword Douluo came to the mine that day and saw it."
"That's why Ning Fengzhi asked." Dugu Yan walked to him and looked at the busy construction site.
"He's assessing whether you're worth betting on."
Chen Jieqi said nothing.
Dugu Yan Lower your voice,
"In my opinion, we don't need to look at their faces.
It's okay to treat each other as equals, but look like giving alms, who are you looking down on?
As long as grandpa is here, we will not be ashamed of anyone."
Chen Jieqi nodded. "That's right, our grandpa is a super Titled Douluo."
Chen Jieqi Fold the map and put it into his sleeve.
"Yan Sister Yan, if you don't want to be a teacher, then help me manage the fiefdom."
Dugu Yan glanced at him. "What do you care?"
"People, craftsmen, villagers, materials. You know better than me who should do what."
Dugu Yan was silent for a moment. "Okay. Then I'm welcome."
Dugu Bo walked out of the chapel, carrying a bottle of wine in his hand, sat down on the stone steps, and hummed.
"She takes care of people, I take care of defense. What do you take care of?"
Chen Jieqi looked at the construction site in the distance. "I don't care if they die."
Dugu Bo took a sip of wine and didn't answer the call.
"At the mouth of the valley and over the crack, I have laid out several poison barriers.
Usually it is hidden and silent, but if Evil Soul Master dares to come, there will be no movement until it is triggered.
In addition, if a square is built on top of the crack to suppress it, the smell of Stone Gate from the mine below will not easily escape."
Chen Jieqi walked to him. "That's enough."
"Enough for them to drink a pot." Dugu Bo took another sip, "
But it lacks the main ingredient, Thousand-Thread Poison Grass. Cangmang Mountain Range has it deep down, and that place is now occupied by Evil Soul Master."
"I'll find it."
"Are you going?" Dugu Bo looked up at him,
"The place is dirtier now than the last time I was there."
"So I have to see it more clearly." Chen Jieqi said,
"Pollution is spreading, Evil Soul Master is gathering. The square is built, they will come sooner or later."
Dugu Bo was silent for a moment. "I'll go with you."
"Grandpa is staying. The poison barrier needs you to preside over."
Dugu Bo snorted. "I'm not worried if you go alone."
"Let Yan Sister Yan accompany me."
Dugu Yan was standing nearby. When he heard this, he didn't say anything and just glanced at Chen Jieqi.
Dugu Bo looked at his granddaughter, then at Chen Jieqi, then put the jug on the stone steps.
"Okay. Two days. If you don't come back in two days, I will take Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor to dig the ground."
Chen Jieqi squatted beside the construction site, holding a bowl of porridge in his hand.
A little boy emerged from the crowd and squatted opposite him, holding his chin in his hands and his eyes bright.
It's the grandson of old man Dawnlight Village, the one who awakened Blue Silver Grass before.
"Benefactor, are you drinking porridge?"
"Hmm."
"My grandpa cooked it. He said you liked it thicker, so he added more rice."
Chen Jieqi lowered his head and glanced at the porridge in the bowl. It was indeed thicker than yesterday.
He took a sip, and the rice smell was very strong.
"Benefactor." The little boy came closer, "Will you protect us?"
Chen Jieqi looked at him. The child's eyes were bright and without impurities, like two washed stones.
"Yes."
The little boy smiled.
That smile, Chen Jieqi mark on the center of the eyebrows jumped slightly, it was as warm as the morning sun.
It was as if someone had lit a small light in his head, it was faint, but it was really bright.
He looked down at his hands.
There is no change in the palm, but deep inside Heart of the Naaru, something is growing slowly.
Sheng Hui's voice sounded in Soul Ring, so low that only he could hear it.
"Feel it? That's trust."
Chen Jieqi didn't speak. He finished the porridge in the bowl, stood up, and touched the little boy's head.
"Let's go play."
The little boy ran away, and the yellow dog chased him, its tail wagging like a windmill.
In the evening, Crown Prince's Residence's supply convoy arrived.
More than a dozen carts, filled with grain, building materials, and medicinal materials, filled the open space at the mouth of the valley.
The leading guard handed over a sealed letter with both hands.
"His Highness said, if Lord Earl has a reply, I will bring it back."
Chen Jieqi Opened the letter, there was only one sentence inside.
"If you don't have enough supplies, don't ask."
No signature, no seal.
But Chen Jieqi recognized the handwriting, it belonged to Xue Qinghe.
The handwriting is neat and tidy, with a very light hook when closing the pen, like a feather crossing the paper.
He folded the letter and put it in his sleeve.
"Tell your highness for me that the supplies are sufficient. When I finish my work, I will go to the house to thank you."
The guards bowed and left with the convoy.
Heaven Dou City Outside, in the abandoned hall.
Tang Hao stood up. The poison on his left shoulder had been removed, and the wound was covered with a layer of black scab.
He moved his right arm, and the joints made a crackling sound. Clear Sky Hammer condensed in the palm of his hand, and the lines on the hammer's body lit up for a moment, then darkened.
He walked to the door and opened it. The night wind came in, carrying the moist smell of the mountains and forests.
He looked in the direction of Heaven Dou City. East Foothills, mine, Dugu Bo.
"Wait a few more days."
He retreated into the hall and closed the door.
At night, Chen Jieqi stood at the mouth of the valley, looking at the cracks in the distance.
The foundation of the square has not yet been dug, and the moonlight shines on the edge of the crack, like a black wound.
The brand mark between the eyebrows is slightly bright, and Holy Light Perception probes down along the crack.
The depths were empty, with no breath of living things.
"Is it clean down there?" Dugu Bo's voice came from behind.
Chen Jieqi Take back perception.
"It's clean for now. But they will come again."
"Come here." Dugu Bo turned around and walked towards the chapel.
"I really want to see how good they are, but I can't guard against thieves for a day."
Chen Jieqi didn't move.
He stood at the mouth of the valley, his robes fluttering in the night wind.
In the distance, thousands of lights of Heaven Dou City flickered in the darkness, like a starry sky upside down on the ground.
He touched his eyebrows.
The temperature of the brand is still there, a little lighter than when the child smiled during the day, but it has not disappeared.
The voice of Sheng Hui sounded again.
"Faith is not a one-time thing. If the child believes in you today, he will believe in you again tomorrow.
The same goes for the day after tomorrow. If you save day by day, the light will shine."
Chen Jieqi said nothing.
"I know, there will be no more 'Dawnlight Village' in the future, everything starts from Ashen Territory!"