Reed Assassin

For a fortress to develop and expand, it needed more people, a sound water supply, an abundant food supply chain, and the ability to resist the Black Tide... These were all top priorities.

From the moment he began taking in his first batch of subjects, Lincon knew that Longwind Fortress would no longer belong to him alone.

If he wanted to keep so many people alive in the darkness, his own strength was not enough. He also needed subordinates capable of sharing his burdens.

Zhang Rui was an exceptionally capable administrator. He also understood Lincon's ambitions and deeply desired to assist him in pushing Longwind Fortress to the very top.

He had witnessed too much filth and ugliness in the Dark Age—things even darker than darkness itself.

At the same time, he had witnessed many miracles in Longwind Fortress, which was why he believed in Lincon.

After explaining everything he knew, he left with the items in his arms.

This heavy box would surely shock many people if taken outside.

Lincon watched Zhang Rui's retreating figure, lingering by the courtyard gate for a moment before turning and returning indoors.

He had things of his own to do as well.

He sorted the luminescent plants gathered from the swamp region and arranged them one by one in the courtyard according to their varieties and classifications.

He also divided the plants by rank.

For example, low-level plants such as Sunlight Sunflowers and Sunlight Potatoes had initially shed their status as ordinary plants and transformed into Spirit Plants, gaining a basic ability to resist Dark Energy.

The luminescent plants before him, which had grown around the Demon Ancient Tree through its field energy, were likewise roughly at the E-Rank stage.

A rank higher were D-rank Spirit Plants such as the Ancient Maple Guardian and Ghostshadow Sword Orchid, which had already mastered Dark Energy.

As for the Demon Ancient Tree, Lincon classified it as a B-Rank plant. The Seed of Life in its germination stage belonged in that category as well.

Plants of this kind already possessed something akin to the concept of a life domain. The ecosystem they spread outward with themselves at its center was an incredibly terrifying ability.

Even B-Rank ability users could not extend their power hundreds or thousands of meters away.

As long as these plants continued growing slowly, the surrounding companion plants would also grow alongside their main body.

That was the evolutionary path of plants within an ecosystem. They might seem weak early on, but they were absolute late-game powerhouses.

They did not compete with you over who was stronger. They only competed over who could live longer.

Of course, that was under natural growth. Lincon's ability allowed them to grow and advance rapidly.

He used the Seed Mark to roughly inspect the luminescent plants placed in the courtyard. In the end, Lincon selected two special plants to advance.

[Red-veined Berry Bush]

[A low shrub born from adapting to a special energy environment. The berries covering its branches pulse like hearts, synchronizing with the pulses to emit a dim crimson light. If physically damaged, they will produce a violent explosion.]

[Advancement Path: Explosive Berry Thicket]

[Sunlight Required: 100]

[Golden-Needle Reed]

[A predatory plant born from adapting to a special energy environment. It develops a predator's consciousness and hunts creatures around it, firing sharp golden reed needles.]

[Advancement Path: Reed Assassin]

[Sunlight Required: 200]

[Unlock Requirement: E-Rank Dark Crystal ×10.]

After repeatedly comparing the advancement paths of the two plants, Lincon chose to advance them.

As the warm light of the Seed Mark rose, the two plants before Lincon were simultaneously enveloped in a faint glow.

[Successfully cultivated the Spirit Plant Explosive Berry Thicket. Plant Cultivator EXP +100.]

[Successfully cultivated the Spirit Plant Reed Assassin. Plant Cultivator EXP +150.]

Two notifications of increased experience appeared on the panel. Immediately afterward, the forms and structures of the Red-veined Berry Bush and Golden-Needle Reed began undergoing fundamental changes.

Strands of golden patterns gradually spread across the berry bush's stems and leaves, swelling like raised blood vessels. The berries expanded to the size of chicken eggs, their appearances especially vicious.

By moving slightly closer, he could feel the violent, scorching aura radiating from the Explosive Berries.

"One look tells you it's trouble!"

The emotions of the Explosive Berry Thicket reached Lincon's mind.

"Explode, explode, explode..."

One hundred Sunlight marked the boundary between E-Rank and D-rank plants. Like the Ancient Maple Guardian, the Explosive Berry Thicket belonged among D-rank plants.

Lincon tried plucking a berry and holding it in his hand. In truth, Explosive Berries were not fragile. They were not the kind of fruit that would burst with a squeeze; their skins possessed a certain hardness, and they would only rupture after being thrown down with force.

That counted as an advantage. At least they would not easily injure allies.

With most firearms unusable in the current Dark Age, this was an excellent substitute.

The Reed Assassin's advancement took longer than that of the Explosive Berry Thicket. This was the second humanoid plant Lincon had cultivated.

Its roots and stalk were several times thicker than the previous Golden-Needle Reed. Its head resembled a mask wrapped in strands of hair, while its hands were two clusters of sharp golden needles. Beneath it, its body split into two conical spikes, sharp as blades and covered in fuzzy, retractable roots.

Even from half a meter away, it gave people an intense sense of discomfort.

It required more Sunlight and more Dark Crystals than the Ancient Maple Guardian, and naturally, it was stronger as well.

Compared with the heavy and slow Ancient Maple Guardian, the Reed Assassin was extremely nimble. Its speed was nearly equal to Viper's when he had first visited Longwind Fortress, perhaps even faster, allowing it to protect Lincon better.

That was precisely why, out of the hundreds of luminescent plants he had collected, Lincon had ultimately chosen the Golden-Needle Reed.

"Too bad I don't have much Sunlight left. Otherwise, I could advance a few more plants."

Lincon glanced at the pitiful 87 points of Sunlight remaining on his panel, unable to keep bitterness from rising in his heart.

Once the Seed of Life deducted its payment on schedule tomorrow, his Sunlight would be nearly depleted again.

Ever since Dark Creatures had appeared, humans had always hidden behind walls, lighting candles and trembling in the light.

But Lincon now felt it was necessary to organize a counterattack against the Dark Creatures.

At the very least, within the territory of Longwind Fortress where the Shrine stood, those things had to be cleared out.

Before long, the sky gradually darkened.

The night watchman jogged through the streets, striking the bronze gong to announce the approaching darkness. At the same time, everyone set down their work, returned to the fortress, and went back to their assigned homes.

As a subject whose loyalty had reached 80, Zhao Mu was naturally assigned a Mushroom House.

The family of three lived there now. After finishing the work arranged by the fortress during the day, they still had to work at home in the evenings, such as sharpening tools and making handicrafts.

Having survived several years in the Dark Age, for ordinary people like them, arriving alive at Longwind Fortress and being taken in was already the greatest fortune amid misfortune.

"Thanks for your hard work!" His wife brought over a bowl of potato soup.

Daytime was incredibly precious, so there was no break at all during work. On top of that, Zhao Mu had been doing the most exhausting work, running the farthest and digging river channels and ditches. By the end of the day, his arms and legs were already unbearably sore.

He took a large gulp of the potato soup, chewing the smooth, slightly grainy starch in his mouth, his heart filled with contentment.

Back in Shangmai City, they had eaten moldy food and drunk filthy, murky water.

He had never expected that after coming to Longwind Fortress, he would get to taste fresh potatoes and clean water. The stark contrast left Zhao Mu somewhat dazed.

Looking at his wife and daughter inside the Mushroom House, intently making handicrafts by candlelight, Zhao Mu was silent for a long time before suddenly speaking.

"Starting tomorrow, I don't want to dig rivers anymore."

"Why? Has the governor arranged a new job for you?" Zhao Mu's wife asked in confusion.

"No." Zhao Mu shook his head. "I want to become a messenger."

At those words, Zhao Mu's wife, who had been fairly calm until then, abruptly froze. She looked up at Zhao Mu.

"You want to be a messenger again? Have you forgotten that when you were a messenger in Shangmai City, you nearly died outside several times?"

As Zhao Mu's wife spoke, her eyes reddened. A large tear slid from the corner of her eye.

Zhao Mu sighed, his gaze becoming even firmer. "It's precisely because I used to be a messenger that I don't want to let this opportunity slip away.

The governor approached me today and asked whether I was interested in becoming a messenger for Longwind Fortress.

The city lord wants to establish an intelligence network for Longwind Fortress, and messengers are a crucial part of it.

You must have heard the news about people from Black Iron City arriving today. In this era, only by constantly growing stronger can we survive."

Zhao Mu's wife choked back tears. "But..."

She opened her mouth, but in the end, she could not say what was in her heart.

"The fortress needs two messengers this time. I've already signed up, and tomorrow I'll go meet the city lord.

After all these years in the darkness, Longwind Fortress is the only city where I've seen hope. I have a feeling that if I don't seize this opportunity, I'll regret it deeply."

Though it was merely an ordinary night, Lincon's initial plans for the fortress had already reached many people's ears.

Just as Zhao Mu had said, this would be an opportunity for many people.

If they stood out at this time and caught the city lord's eye, then once Longwind Fortress grew stronger in the future, social classes would begin to be divided from this very moment.