Territory Map

"Next up is the exciting lottery. With my luck so far, the prize shouldn't be too bad, right?"

Lin Lei muttered to himself.

The familiar wheel, the familiar scene.

"Congratulations, host. You have obtained one Soul-Returning Pill and one set of Silver-tier barracks blueprints."

With a thought, the two newly acquired items appeared in Lin Lei's hands.

"The Soul-Returning Pill. In the game, it works like a revival potion, but in the system's hands, it's become a pill that restores mental energy."

Lin Lei grumbled.

"Now, about these barracks blueprints. From the picture, they do look like plans for a building, but how am I supposed to use them, System?"

"Host, there is no need to worry. Blueprints are normally something you only have a chance to obtain once you reach Platinum tier. The back of the blueprints lists the required building materials. Buildings constructed using blueprints drawn from the system possess certain incredible powers.

"For example, the barracks blueprints in your hands are Silver tier. They can speed up the growth of soldiers at Silver tier and below, and increase their morale and loyalty. Naturally, that's assuming you don't bring disaster upon yourself and turn everyone against you. In that case, even a building made from the blueprints won't be able to save you."

For once, the system went out of its way to explain things to Lin Lei, leaving him a little flattered.

Following the system's mechanical voice, Lin Lei flipped the blueprints over. Sure enough, a list of construction requirements appeared.

First, the basic materials: 5,000 kilograms of Silver-tier timber, 10,000 kilograms of high-quality stone, and 1,000 kilograms of refined iron. In theory, the better the materials, the greater the effects of the building.

Second, he needed an advanced architect skilled in construction.

Lin Lei did a quick calculation. These mere Silver-tier blueprints would cost him half his net worth. If Gold and Platinum blueprints came along later, wouldn't they ruin him?

He put the two items away. They were no use to him right now. Only after dealing with all the affairs of his territory could he look for an advanced architect to put them to use.

It was time to cultivate. After fighting two high-tier enemies, Lin Lei felt he was on the verge of breaking through to the second rank of Gold tier.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz!"

Faint currents of electricity coursed around Lin Lei, flickering like elusive little snakes. This strange phenomenon had only appeared after he cultivated his technique to Gold tier. Whenever he began absorbing essence energy, the currents transformed from non-elemental energy into lightning-attribute battle qi. A small amount that he couldn't absorb dissipated into the air, forming faint sparks.

"Phew."

Lin Lei let out a deep breath. After several hours of circulating his technique, he had successfully advanced another rank.

The next day, in the council hall at Crouching Dragon Ravine.

Lin Lei was arranging the territory's regular affairs. Once everyone had finished speaking, he asked Allen to stay behind.

"Have you finished sorting the spoils we seized? And have the soldiers' compensation payments been handed out?"

"Lord, everything was done according to your instructions. I had Lin Yu personally oversee every last stitch being distributed. There were no problems."

Allen replied meticulously.

"Good. In that case, I have a task that I need you to handle personally. Our territory has collected a great deal of fur and ore. Keep the ore and use it to make weapons and agricultural equipment for our army.

"Take the excess fur to Flower Territory and sell it. Even if everyone at Crouching Dragon Ravine had a set, we still wouldn't use that much. So exchange it all for hard cash while you can.

"When you return, don't bring back those coins. Buy more people instead. We've just finished sweeping the area, and there are plenty of places for them to live.

"Hire some more mages, too. We have far too few, and no mages capable of teaching magic to the next generation. Last—and most importantly—find an advanced architect. No matter what it takes, bring them to our territory.

"The amount involved this time isn't as large as before, but it's still substantial. I wouldn't feel comfortable sending anyone else in charge. I'll only be at ease if you go."

Lin Lei explained.

Allen nodded and, at Lin Lei's signal, went to prepare for the transaction.

Favoring one's own kin had never been a compliment, but the people one trusted most were family. Compared with those who had no ties to him, Lin Lei trusted Allen more.

After Allen left, Lin Lei turned his attention to Luo Ji, another Centurion. The army had grown, and Lin Lei had promoted him from Allen's deputy to Centurion.

"I have an important task for you, too."

Lin Lei spoke gravely, his perceptive eyes fixed on Luo Ji.

"My parents and younger sister live in Pear Garden, in Wheat Town. I haven't brought them here because the territory wasn't secure before.

"Now there are hardly any magical beasts left across the hundreds of miles around us. I need you to take a squad of soldiers and bring my parents and sister here."

"I won't let you down, Lord!"

Luo Ji declared. His already serious expression grew even more earnest.

In just a few short months at Crouching Dragon Ravine, he had watched Lin Lei turn a desolate wilderness, overgrown with weeds and devoid of people, into a thriving town of several thousand. Lin Lei had also given him a position he'd never dared dream of.

All of this made Luo Ji admire Lin Lei even more, and he obeyed his orders without question.

"Good. Here's something of mine. Take it with you, and my parents will know to come with you."

As he spoke, Lin Lei took a rabbit-shaped piece of colored glass from his pocket and handed it to Luo Ji.

Lin Lei had found the glass years ago in an open field. Its shape was especially adorable and suited a girl perfectly, so he had given it to Avril.

For the next few years, Avril had treasured the glass, never letting it out of her sight. When Lin Lei left Wheat Town for Flower Territory, Avril had given it back to him.

This little token carried the love and concern of his sister and family. When Avril and the others saw it, they would understand.

Luo Ji left soon afterward.

Lin Lei picked up a piece of fruit and started eating. As the lord of a frontier territory, he lived no worse than any other noble.

Every day, he had fresh, magical fruit to enjoy, such as the otherworldly dragon fruit he was holding now—a Silver-quality fruit.

Since fruit couldn't be kept fresh, the steward of the Lord's Mansion had people buy it from a major city like Flower Territory.

Recently, however, Lin Lei had been planning to dig an ice cellar. It would keep him cool in summer and let him store fruit, like a refrigerator.

It was already well into autumn, and winter would arrive in just a few months. The area where Lin Lei lived seemed to lie in the temperate zone of the planet Azeroth. It snowed every winter, bringing rainwater to the earth and replenishing its reserves.

By then, the ice cellar Lin Lei had envisioned should be finished, just in time for this winter's snowfall.

"Red Fire, come on. Let's go on patrol."

Lin Lei barely had time to enjoy a few pieces of fruit before calling Red Fire, who was chewing on a bone nearby, to come patrol with him. Red Fire was becoming more and more like the Howling Celestial Dog. All day long, he just clung to a bone and gnawed on it, never even looking at meat. Only when Lin Lei took him out would he put the bone aside.

"Woof! Woof!"

Red Fire barked excitedly a few times and followed Lin Lei toward the stables.

Although the area within several hundred kilometers of Crouching Dragon Ravine had been cleared out, they still had to guard against magical beasts from the Gloomy Forest wandering in.

There were very few magical beasts in the area now. With little competition here, the beasts from the Gloomy Forest would migrate into the territory and settle down.

For that reason, Lin Lei had set up a dedicated patrol squad whose sole duty was to patrol the territory every day and kill any magical beasts that trespassed.

That was what Lin Lei intended to do now. According to the laws of nature, the next few days would see the fiercest wave of beasts returning. Once the beasts nearby gradually realized that Crouching Dragon Ravine was a death zone, fewer and fewer would wander in.

To be safe, Lin Lei would also patrol the borders of his territory over the next few days. After all, he was the strongest person there. The more capable someone was, the more responsibility they had. Once the army grew stronger, he wouldn't need to work so hard.

"Red Fire, attack!"

As soon as they reached the edge of the territory, they spotted a Silver-tier demon wolf entering Lin Lei's lands. Lin Lei didn't attack it himself. Instead, he sent his dog to fight it.

Red Fire was fast—faster even than the wolf. Like a bolt of lightning, he darted through the trees and pounced on it.

"Roar!"

The wolf was startled by Red Fire's speed. It quickly bared its teeth and opened its jaws to intimidate him. The fur along its back stood on end.

But when it turned, its right hind leg visibly trembled.

Red Fire was frightened by the wolf's expression and didn't attack right away. Instead, he stared it down.

"Hmm... This should be a lone wolf, an old one driven from its pack. It has a wound on its right leg, and it can barely move. Something must have hit it there—probably a bear-like magical beast.

"This old wolf was probably driven out of its territory in the Gloomy Forest by other magical beasts, and it wandered here. Otherwise, demon wolves usually have their own territories and don't wander around. That would be too dangerous for them."

As Red Fire faced the wolf, Lin Lei analyzed the situation from the sidelines.

"Red Fire is in peak condition, while this old wolf is injured and hungry. It won't last five minutes against him."

As Lin Lei was thinking, Red Fire, who had been eyeing the wolf warily, finally lost patience and launched the first attack.

He made no attempt to hide his move, fixing his gaze on the wolf's neck and biting down. The wolf was caught in his jaws. It struggled for less than ten seconds before its body began to grow cold.

Sometimes, it really was that quick: five minutes of staring each other down, then three seconds to end the fight.

The wolf had tried to dodge the instant Red Fire attacked, but its exhausted body couldn't keep up with its brain. And so it died.

Red Fire came back with his mouth covered in blood. The moment he bit through the wolf's neck, he returned to Lin Lei's side.

"Let's go. Leave this for the soldiers to clean up."

Lin Lei said.

There were no outsiders or large and medium-sized magical beasts in the territory now, so he didn't have to worry about someone stealing the wolf and eating it.