Since Chen Mu made the first refining machine, the food problem in Iron Soul Village has been greatly alleviated.
On the other hand, the multi-functional refining machine can also assist Chen Mu in refining metal ores, which makes it much faster for him to continue making other machines.
After spending more than half a month, Chen Mu established a small automated production workshop. In addition to making food, it had surplus production capacity to make various armor, weapons, and production tools for the villagers.
With the food problem solved, a large number of workers were freed up, and Chen Mu began his next expansion plan.
On the outskirts of Iron Soul Village, thousands of villagers are busy at work. Some are building walls, some are moving stones, and some are polishing bricks. They are all working with great enthusiasm, creating a lively scene.
Because all the villagers possessed cultivation, they worked quickly, and in less than half a month, stone walls four or five meters high had been built around Iron Soul Village.
At this rate, it's estimated that Iron Soul Village will be transformed into a stone castle in less than a month, greatly increasing its defensive capabilities.
"My lord, the Yin Stone are being used up too quickly lately. If this continues, our Yin Stone will only last for half a month at most."
Just as Chen Mu was brimming with confidence, wanting to create the Robot Corps in one go, Gao Fenghai's report poured cold water on his enthusiasm.
He then realized that in any world, you can't get anywhere without money.
"Weren't they saying that Yin Stone below the fourth rank were worthless? Why are we running out so quickly?"
Chen Mu put down the design drawings in his hand and looked at Gao Fenghai with a depressed mood.
The Death Spiritual Power in the Netherworld is extremely concentrated, so there are many unclaimed Yin Stone in the wild. Villagers can dig them up at will if they want, so ordinary Yin Stone are not valuable in the Netherworld.
The truly valuable Yin Stone are those of grade five or higher, which are produced under extremely demanding conditions and are the mainstream circulating currency in the market.
"My lord, before you came, we actually spent most of our time struggling for food, and had very little time to cultivate, so we accumulated quite a lot of Yin Stone."
But since you arrived, we're consuming more Yin Stone in a single day than we used to in a whole month, so naturally we don't have enough."
Gao Fenghai lowered his head and explained sincerely.
"At this rate of consumption, how many people would I need to send to mine Yin Stone to balance the consumption?"
Chen Mu pondered.
Gao Fenghai looked troubled, hesitated for a long time, and then held up three fingers. "Given the current situation, we need at least three thousand able-bodied men to excavate, and about a thousand soldiers to escort it, just to ensure the safety of the Yin Stone."
The wilderness of the Netherworld is even more dangerous than the Wilderness. In addition to monsters, undead spirits also appear randomly, which greatly restricts the development of human forces. Even the most powerful Nether Clan finds the ubiquitous undead spirits a headache.
"So many people?"
Chen Mu frowned, silently assessing the situation.
After more than half a month of expansion, the population of Iron Soul Village has increased from nearly 10,000 to more than 20,000, including about 10,000 able-bodied young adults and about 4,000 trained soldiers.
If it were just a matter of transferring three thousand able-bodied men and one thousand soldiers to mine, Iron Soul Village could manage. However, if Chen Mu continued to develop Rune Technology, the demand for Yin Stone would only increase. Relying solely on the villagers of Iron Soul Village to mine would be a drop in the ocean, and other more efficient methods needed to be considered.
"Old Hai, besides mining, are there any other ways to obtain a large amount of Yin Stone?"
"Yes! The fastest way is to go to Nine Yama City and trade with other people."
For example, you can take a little of the food made by adults to the city and sell it to get a lot of Yin Stone.
A hint of excitement flashed in Gao Fenghai's eyes.
"No! Food is also an important resource for us; it cannot be used for trade."
Chen Mu shook his head. No matter how valuable the food was, it had its limits. After all, cultivators above the Core Formation Realm had very low food requirements.
To make money, you need to create truly valuable items to trade; that's the fastest way to grow your business.
"You can go now! I'll think about the Yin Stone matter some more."
"Yes! I'll take my leave."
Outside Iron Soul Village, a cavalry squad of about five hundred men is advancing.
"Lord Qing Tai, if we continue forward, we'll reach the territory of Iron Soul Village. It's said they survived the Undead Tide more than half a month ago. I wonder how many of them are still alive."
As Yin Guang walked, he introduced the man beside him.
This year's wave of the dead is more ferocious than in previous years, causing serious casualties in many human settlements.
Therefore, Nine Yama City dispatched many cavalry squads, partly to patrol the various settlements within its territory, and partly to provide assistance to villages in dire straits to help them overcome the crisis.
After all, the prosperity of Nine Yama City is inseparable from the support of these villages. The villages also send supplies to Nine Yama City every year, so they should also show their appreciation.
"Well, they must have some skill to have managed to pull through."
Let's go! Let's take a look.
Yan Qingtai nodded and led the cavalry directly in the direction Yin Guang had indicated.
Yin Guang, nearing fifty, was a veteran who knew the surrounding wilderness of Nine Yama City well and served as their guide for the trip.
Da da da~!
When Yan Qingtai led his team to the outskirts of Iron Soul Village, he was startled by the sight before him.
In front of a tall, majestic rocky mountain lies a village of several thousand households. The village is mostly surrounded by a four- or five-meter-high wall, with only a small section enclosed by a wooden fence.
Yan Qingtai couldn't help but place his right hand on the scabbard, very wary of the scene before him.
" Yin Guang, is this the village you described with only about ten thousand people?"
Yin Guang sensed the coldness in Yan Qingtai's tone and quickly explained, "My lord, I don't know why this is happening either."
I was here just six months ago, so there shouldn't be such a big change!
Yan Qingtai looked coldly at Yin Guang, but felt that Yin Guang's expression did not seem fake, and couldn't help but feel a little confused.
"The city walls were built in less than half a year. Does this Iron Soul Village have a powerful backer?"
He racked his brains without finding a solution, then pointed ahead.
"Alright, Yin Guang, go and summon the leader of Iron Soul Village. I'll personally ask him what happened."