Damn, their legs are better than mine even though they’re younger.
Yan Yiqiu and Yun Yan were placed in front of the two-story villa.
“Phew, it really feels easier to be back in the territory,” Yun Yan muttered as she let out a deep sigh, turning her head to look around. Her pupils widened slightly. “Sister, the territory has changed a lot!”
Before entering the dungeon, the territory only had this two-story villa and, not far away, the territory warehouse and the main hall. No other buildings existed.
Now, a four-story residential building had been constructed behind the main hall.
The residential building was built according to Yan Yiqiu’s specifications: only four floors, all single rooms, each about 15 square meters—enough for one person to live comfortably.
Each floor had about fifty single rooms, so a building could accommodate two hundred residents.
The second single residential building was already taking shape, and construction would likely finish in a few days.
“Yanyan, Yiqiu, are you back from the dungeon?”
Lin Shuya received the notification and hurried over from the main hall, looking them over carefully. Seeing that neither of them was injured, and Yun Yan only slightly worn out, her tension slowly eased.
She didn’t know exactly what had happened in the dungeon, but seeing her daughter exhausted, she guessed it must have been tough and gently asked, “Do you want to rest for a bit first?”
Yan Yiqiu smiled and said, “Everything in the territory is fine, don’t worry.”
From the territory system backend, Yan Yiqiu could see the residents’ activity over the past twenty days, as well as what Lin Shuya and Yun Zhiyuan had done during this period—how many points they gave, and what items they had taken from the territory warehouse.
This kind of absolute control could easily make weak-willed players lose their boundaries.
In her previous life, she had a period of restlessness as well.
Eventually, she drew a strict line for herself, refusing to step beyond it.
“I’m fine, not too tired,” Yan Yiqiu collected her thoughts and replied with a smile. “Yun Yan can take a nap—she really worked hard in this dungeon.”
Yun Yan had wanted to help, but seeing that the territory seemed well managed, she nodded. “Okay, I’ll sleep for a while. Call me if anything comes up.”
“I’ve put the upgrade materials in the warehouse, An’an~”
Yan Yiqiu waved and turned to enter the villa.
Lin Shuya looked at her daughter’s back with a twinge of worry but quickly hid her emotions and spoke gently to Yan Yiqiu about what had happened over the past twenty days.
“The first residential building was completed five days ago. Half of the residents have moved in. About three hundred sets of bedding, pillows, and other supplies were completed. Three days ago, the carpenters made thirty wooden textile machines, so production speed should be faster.”
“The planting fields have produced two harvests…”
Lin Shuya reported everything methodically, her voice soft and pleasant to listen to.
Yan Yiqiu listened while thinking to herself how right it was to make Yun Yan’s parents administrators—it saved her so much time and effort.
“You did a great job, thank you and uncle for your hard work.”
Lin Shuya’s eyes, slightly resembling Yun Yan’s, curved in a gentle smile. “Not too hard. Do you want to go check the main hall and the construction site?”
Yan Yiqiu shook her head. “Not for now, I need to get busy.”
Lin Shuya understood and left thoughtfully.
Yan Yiqiu turned to her room in the villa, sat on the soft bed, and began tallying the dungeon’s gains.
[Player Level: 9 (63,987/100,000)]
[Stamina: 369/500]
[Energy: 337/500]
[HP: 31,000/31,000 (with defensive clothing bonus)]
[Satiation: 77]
[Life Skills: Cook·Beginner (8), Pharmacist·Beginner (8), Tailor·Beginner (8), Carpenter·Beginner (7), Architect·Beginner (7), Mechanical Engineer·Beginner (7), Firearms Engineer·Beginner (5)…]
[Backpack (250 slots): Wood x300,984, Tier 1 Ore x183,765, Tier 2 Ore x144,298, Tier 3 Ore x109,902, Tier 4 Ore x53,210, Energy Crystal·Green x2,109, Energy Crystal·Blue x451, Energy Crystal·Purple x100, Element Ore·Green x3,421, Element Ore·Blue x999, Meteorite·Green x512, Meteorite·Blue x209, Fire Sand Stone x4,109…]
[Personal Assets: 61,098 Gold, 205 Silver, 997 Copper.]
Fire Sand Stone is the primary material for glass-making. Once the territory reaches level 8, permanent store limits should provide equipment to produce glass.
Yun Yan placed about 150,000 wood into the territory warehouse, along with plenty of ores, but Yan Yiqiu’s backpack already contained enough ores.
Without hesitation, Yan Yiqiu chose to upgrade the territory.
[Upgrade to Level 8 requires: 350,000 wood, 200,000 Tier 1 Ore, 80,000 Tier 2 Ore, 30,000 Tier 3 Ore, 10,000 Tier 4 Ore, and 20,000 gold. Proceed with upgrade?]
Yes, yes, yes.
[Territory upgrading…]
[Territory upgraded to Level 8: area expanded to 100,000 sq.m., +50 plantable soil, +40 warehouse slots.]
[Unlocked Buff: [Focus]]
[Unlocked Buff: [Rejuvenation]]
[Focus] Lv.1: All official residents’ work efficiency increases by 0.5%
[Rejuvenation] Lv.1: Player stamina and energy recovery speed increases by 5% per hour
[Lord: Yan Yiqiu]
[Territory Level: 8]
[Number of Residents: 6,587]
[Territory Administrators: 3 (up to 5 can be set)]
[Plantable Soil: 150]
[Breeding Area: Unlocked]
[Territory Warehouse: 80]
With the upgrade, the territory expanded outward.
Yan Yiqiu planted seeds in all newly available soil and cleared the daily and permanent limit items in the territory store.
Flour, sugar, spices, rice, meat, cement, bricks, and other materials were all placed in the warehouse.
The permanent store limit indeed spawned automatic glass-making equipment.
She placed it next to the iron refining equipment, fed it Fire Sand Stone, and sent a message in the admin group to Lin Shuya and Yun Zhiyuan.
Once the glass was ready, the residents would install it in the building.
The empty windows in the residential building looked unattractive.
[Lin Shuya: Glass is ready? Okay, I’ll arrange it.]
[Yan Yiqiu: More residents will be randomly added later. Prepare them and register them temporarily according to the previous list.]
[Lin Shuya: Got it.]
[Yun Zhiyuan: Received.]
Many players had died in the dungeon. Upon death, their territories were automatically destroyed, and residents randomly redistributed to surviving players’ territories.
After finishing the upgrade, Yan Yiqiu planned to raise Cooking and Pharmacy skills to level 10, which would let her use the piles of white-quality ingredients and herbs in her backpack. Once processed, they could be sold on the trading market.
With the [Rejuvenation] buff, stamina and energy recovery was faster. Combined with the chest pin that Wei Jiaze had dropped earlier, which could occasionally double rewards, this would be extremely profitable.
Yan Yiqiu jumped out the window, set up a pot in the open space in front of the villa, and hummed while cooking.
[Obtained Braised Fish·White x2, Cooking EXP +20]
[Obtained Braised Fish·White x6 (Triggered Inspiration effect), Cooking EXP +60]
[Obtained…]
Beep beep—
A private chat notification appeared.
[Wei Jiaze: Captain, can I join your territory?]
Yan Yiqiu wasn’t surprised by his request. She calmly stored the freshly cooked food, listed it on the trading market along with other gains, and then replied.
[Yan Yiqiu: Are you sure? Once you join, there’s no turning back. Your territory will be reclaimed by the system and you can no longer be a lord.]
[Wei Jiaze: I’m sure.]
[Wei Jiaze: I’m not good at interacting with people, much less managing a territory. Being a lord isn’t for me.]
Previously, Zhao Xingpeng had asked him to join his territory, but Wei Jiaze had sensed the man’s true nature and never agreed.
Luckily he didn’t agree and discovered it early.
[Yan Yiqiu: Welcome to join.]
[Wei Jiaze: I have a question… What happens to my territory’s residents if I join another territory?]
[Yan Yiqiu: Either they come with you, or they’re randomly distributed to other territories.]
[Wei Jiaze: Got it, I’ll go greet them first.]
[Player Wei Jiaze requests to join your territory. Accept?]
—Accept
[Please prepare to receive new residents.]
The next moment, Wei Jiaze appeared in the territory, along with a batch of new residents at the gate.
Because Yan Yiqiu had notified the group earlier, Lin Shuya and Yun Zhiyuan immediately noticed the new arrivals and went to register them.
Wei Jiaze felt his vision blur as familiar figures came into view.
His tightly pressed lips curved slightly.
“Captain,” he greeted softly, then looked around.
The captain’s territory was more than twice the size of his. In the distant planting area, crops were thriving, flowers bloomed beautifully.
Unlike his empty territory.
This territory had numerous buildings. Beside the planting area was a building resembling a school cafeteria, with occasional figures moving inside visible from the doorway. Behind it was a completed four-story building, and another building under construction.
Residents were busy and energetic, their faces rosy and spirits high. It was clear they had not suffered much and were living comfortably in the territory.
They had clearly divided tasks—those laying bricks focused on bricks, those handling cement focused on cement—without a single person slacking off.
Wei Jiaze couldn’t help but think about the residents in his own territory who had gone three days with just nine meals… He felt a bit guilty toward them, but he really had been poor back then.
Lost in thought, a notification suddenly popped up on his panel.
[You have been appointed as a Territory Administrator by the Lord. You can manage the territory’s warehouse and residents.]
[Territory: Nirvana Territory]
[Lord: Yan Yiqiu]
[Territory Level: 8]
[Territory Residents: 8,047 (6,588 official residents, 1,459 temporary residents)]
[Territory Administrators: 4]
Wei Jiaze was surprised: “Captain, has our territory already reached level eight?”
He said “our territory” very naturally.
“Yeah, it just leveled up.”
Yan Yiqiu glanced at the batch of residents he brought and, seeing them pale, thin, and listless from hunger, instructed Lin Shuya to prepare some food for them first. Of course, it wasn’t free—the points would be owed and could be repaid after they earned them by working.
“The system returned half of the materials to me, plus the ones I collected in the last dungeon…” Wei Jiaze lowered his gaze to organize his backpack and quietly asked, “Should I put these materials into the territory warehouse?”
“Go ahead. You’ve worked hard in the last dungeon too; go rest for a while.” Yan Yiqiu said.
“The second-to-last room on the second floor of the villa is still empty.”
She also traded Wei Jiaze a two-meter bed with bedding, telling him he could decorate it however he liked—this room was his.
Wei Jiaze nodded vigorously and, carrying the items Yan Yiqiu gave him, entered the villa.
The interior was simple and elegant: the first floor had the living areas like the kitchen and lounge, while the second floor was for resting. Ascending the stairs, the first thing he noticed was the sign hanging by the door:
[Yan Yiqiu]
[Yan Yiqiu’s Doghouse~]
[This is where the old couple lives]
He reached the second-to-last empty room, raised his hand to his lips, and realized a smile had unknowingly appeared.
It felt… really good.
Wei Jiaze thought to himself—it felt like home.
The residents Wei Jiaze brought hadn’t finished registration when Yan Yiqiu received a system prompt.
[Unowned residents from deceased players’ territories are being randomly distributed. All territory lords, please prepare to accept new residents.]
Another batch of new residents arrived, and Lin Shuya and Yun Zhiyuan wouldn’t be able to handle it alone.
Yan Yiqiu went to the hall.
The hall had already been transformed into a dining area, with several long wooden tables and attached benches. Although simple, the design allowed more people to sit. It wasn’t mealtime yet, so residents inside were sewing sheets, pillows, and quilts.
Seeing Yan Yiqiu at the doorway, everyone immediately put down their work, stood up, and politely greeted, “Lord.”
“The system has added two more batches of new residents. Find a few of you to come with me to help with registration.” Yan Yiqiu explained calmly and pointed at four younger pairs of men and women: “You come with me; the rest continue your work.”
The four men and four women selected stepped forward nervously, carefully observing her expression, not daring to speak much.
Yan Yiqiu led them to the entrance, where long lines had already formed before Lin Shuya and Yun Zhiyuan.
She handed the forms to the young people: “Register these residents according to the forms. After registration, you’ll receive points as a reward. Once registered, let them go to the dining hall to get their food.”
“Points are owed first—tell them they’ll need to work later to pay back. My territory doesn’t support freeloaders or useless people.”
Hearing this, the youngsters perked up and replied energetically: “Understood, Lord! We’ll complete the task!”
“Those at the back, line up here for registration.”
“Don’t push—one at a time.”
“Name, age, any skills? For example, cooking, construction, carpentry…”
“Done registering, go to the dining hall to get your food. The dining hall is in that building over there.” A young girl pointed to the dining hall for the new residents. “Food isn’t free. But since you’re new, the lord allows you to owe points first, then repay after earning them through work.”
Some residents had stayed in other territories before, each with different rules.
The long-hungry residents accepted this well, thinking, “Work to eat? Fine, as long as I get food, I’ll do anything.”
However, some residents had previously received free food from their former lords. Hearing now that work was required for food, they immediately started causing a commotion.
“What? We have to work to get food? I’m not doing it!”
“Yeah! In my old territory, you didn’t have to work for meals—why here?”
“I don’t want to stay in this territory! Send me back!”
“The lord is a player, right? Players are so capable—why can’t food be free?”
The young helpers were at a loss, unsure what to do.
Lin Shuya noticed the chaos and frowned, about to intervene, but caught sight of Yan Yiqiu approaching. She paused, letting Yan Yiqiu deal with the noisy residents.
“Who doesn’t want to stay in my territory? Step forward, and I’ll throw you out right now.”
Yan Yiqiu’s cold voice rang out, and the shouting instantly stopped, like a pause button had been pressed.
She looked at the new residents expressionlessly, speaking softly yet clearly enough for everyone to hear:
“Every territory has its rules. My rule is: no freeloaders, no useless people. Anyone dreaming of getting something for nothing—get out.”
She stared at the loudest troublemakers; her dark, sharp eyes made them shiver.
“Were you just the one who said you didn’t want to stay? Fine, then leave.”
“No, no, that’s not what I meant—”
In the next second, the middle-aged man who had led the commotion disappeared, cast out of the territory.
[You have been expelled from the territory by the Lord.]
His face showed pure terror, no trace of the arrogance from before, as he pounded on the wall begging: “I was wrong, I know I was wrong, Lord! Please let me back in! I’ll never do it again!”
“I can work! I’ll do anything! Please, let me in!”
These people had experienced monster sieges and knew how dangerous it was outside. Without a territory, their only fate was death.
The man regretted it bitterly.
If he had known the lord would be so ruthless, he wouldn’t have caused trouble!
His previous lord was a friend’s son, who let him lie around and eat freely. Suddenly hearing the new lord’s rule of “no work, no food,” he felt annoyed and tried to stir up others for his own benefit.
Now, not only did he fail to gain anything, but he also lost his place.
Outside the territory, a gloomy gray mist hung in the air. Crooked, lifeless trees looked like monsters with gaping jaws—twisted and terrifying.
“Please, let me in—”
The man’s desperate cries sent chills down the spine.
Yan Yiqiu ignored the sound and addressed the remaining group: “Anyone else want to leave? You have two minutes to step forward. After two minutes, if no one steps forward, I’ll assume you agree to follow my rules. Don’t test me later.”
With the man’s fate as an example, who would dare step forward?
Two minutes passed. No one moved.
“No one? Then you agree to the rules.” Yan Yiqiu signaled Lin Shuya with her eyes and coldly said, “Continue registration.”
She then turned and left.
Lin Shuya, receiving the cue, stepped forward with a gentle, warm smile, soothing the frightened new residents.
“Alright, continue registering,” she said softly.
“Don’t be afraid. As long as you follow the rules and work properly, the lord won’t harm you. Look, our territory is very large. The new residential building will be completed soon. With enough points, you can rent your own room…”
She gestured to the completed residential building inside the territory, reassuring them: if they worked, they’d get food, clothes, and even a house.
Your old territories didn’t have this, did they? No. But ours does!
It’s just work. Who doesn’t work? Our original residents have been diligently earning points—what’s stopping you newcomers?
The new residents, previously intimidated by Yan Yiqiu, calmed down under Lin Shuya’s guidance. Thinking it over, they realized she was right.
Just work. That’s all.
With the combination of a firm warning and gentle persuasion, the new residents registered honestly, collected food from the dining hall to fill their hungry stomachs, and waited for assignments.
Yan Yiqiu observed silently. Seeing the residents behave, she went back to making food and medicine.
The “lesson for the others” move ensured the residents would obey for a long time. As for the expelled middle-aged man—whether he lived or died was now his own fate. Such people always cause trouble eventually.
Troublemakers must be dealt with early—this was a lesson from her previous life.
After making a dozen small batches of medicine to put up for sale, Yan Yiqiu went to the glass-making equipment, added the silica sand, and assembled a glass cover with small breathing holes, moving it near the breeding area.
The bee eggs collected from the third dungeon could now be raised.
She used wood to craft a large beehive in the breeding area. The soil previously placed there had already bloomed with flowers. The bee eggs went inside the hive, then she covered the area with the glass dome to restrict the mutant bees’ movement.
Mutant bees were highly dangerous; without control, they could harm residents.
She certainly didn’t want to see bloodshed in her territory.
When the territory reached level 10, unlocking the livestock shop, she could buy chicks, ducklings, and goslings to establish a proper breeding area.
After nearly finishing her tasks, Yan Yiqiu returned to her room to sleep and restore energy—there was still plenty to do after waking.
The three players in the territory were resting.
Lin Shuya and Yun Zhiyuan discussed for a moment and decided to have the veteran residents guide the new residents in their work. This way, the new residents could more quickly integrate into the community, and the veterans could dispel some of the new residents’ negative impressions of the lord.
The veteran residents noticed that the new residents seemed anxious and curiously asked why.
New resident: “Just now, we saw the lord expel someone from the territory…”
Veteran resident, shocked: “The lord actually expelled someone? Why?”
New resident: “Because that person heard that you have to work to earn food and wasn’t willing, so they caused a scene, saying they didn’t want to stay here…”
Veteran resident: “Well, serves them right.”
“If you won’t work but still want to eat, that’s just not how it works,” said the veteran, approving the lord’s decision and reassuring the new residents: “Our lord is already very fair. You get enough to eat and keep warm, and when the houses are built, you can even rent or buy a room with points. It’s not much different from before.”
“And earning points is easy. Once you get familiar, you can earn 300 points an hour. Work hard for a day, and you can accumulate enough points to qualify as an official resident.”
“One meal only costs 100 points, and the canteen provides three meals a day. You can earn back the points in an hour, and any leftover can be saved or exchanged for things like blankets or pillows. You can rest whenever you want; you’re not forced to work every day.”
“I think working in this territory is much better than that crappy job before. At least we don’t have to deal with a dumb boss.”
The new residents thought it made sense but were still a little wary: “…Our lord wouldn’t expel people randomly, would they?”
Veteran resident: “You probably won’t believe it, but that guy you mentioned—the fool—was actually the first person ever expelled from the territory by the lord.”
New resident: “Really?”
Veteran resident: “Of course! Otherwise, I wouldn’t be so shocked when I heard it. Our first batch of residents is still here in perfect order!”
The new residents immediately felt reassured.
“All right, enough talk. Let’s work.”
The new residents replied affirmatively and earnestly followed the veterans to work, striving to qualify as official residents.
By the time Yan Yiqiu woke up, the territory had returned to normal. The old and new residents were getting along very well. With more people, the second residential building was completed much sooner than expected.
[Lord: Yan Yiqiu]
[Territory Level: 8]
[Number of Residents: 10,775 (6,587 official residents, 4,194 temporary residents)]
[Territory Administrators: 4]
Over four thousand fresh blood had joined.
Most of the new residents were able-bodied workers. Only about a third were young children without mobility or awareness. Most others were between 45–65 years old.
Yun Yan and Wei Jiaze also regained consciousness.
The former was introducing new teammates to her parents.
Wei Jiaze, with a reserved expression, said: “Hello, uncle and aunt.”
Lin Shuya smiled gently: “Your name is Wei Jiaze, right? Jiaze, that’s a really nice name.”
Yun Zhiyuan smiled politely: “Hello.”
Wei Jiaze’s shy and introverted demeanor easily sparked Lin Shuya’s affection. She gently asked if he was hungry and if he wanted something to eat.
Wei Jiaze, blushing, waved his hand, saying he wasn’t hungry.
“Mom!” Yun Yan linked arms with Lin Shuya and pulled her aside, whispering: “You’re being too enthusiastic! Wei Jiaze is very introverted. Look, his neck is red as if it’s about to bleed. That’s enough, take it slow.”
Lin Shuya sighed twice and promised to be careful next time.
Wei Jiaze thought to himself that as a player, his senses were sharper than ordinary people’s, so he could hear everything she said…
He pressed his lips together, touched his flushed ears, and saw Yan Yiqiu coming out of the villa. He immediately put his hands down and greeted her: “Captain, I’ve rested. Is there anything I can help with?”
“For now, nothing,” she replied. Seeing him a little disappointed, she smiled: “Do you like working that much? Don’t worry. There will be plenty for you to do later. Rest well now; don’t push yourself too hard.”
Wei Jiaze obediently said okay.
After Yan Yiqiu left, he hesitated for two seconds about what to do next, then received a private message from Li Ru.
[Li Ru: #photos #photos #photos]
[Li Ru: Hehe, ungrateful, our territory is now level six. It’s only going to get better. Don’t regret leaving the team!]
Wei Jiaze glanced at the three photos Li Ru sent.
In the empty territory, there were only a few makeshift wooden huts. The residents had no place to stay and could only lie on the ground, looking listless.
Meanwhile, Li Ru appeared radiant in the photos, looking very proud and even flashing a “yay” gesture at the camera.
If Wei Jiaze had seen these photos before joining Yan Yiqiu’s territory, he might have been impressed by the territory’s size.
Now…
Compared with wooden huts, a small villa, or a four-story residential building, it all seemed shabby. He felt nothing, even slightly amused.
[Wei Jiaze: You joined Zhao Xingpeng’s territory?]
[Li Ru: Yes. How’s that, jealous yet!]
[Wei Jiaze: Good luck. Hope you don’t regret it.]
[Li Ru: Haha, I won’t regret it. You’re the one who’ll regret it!]
Wei Jiaze ignored her.
But after thinking for a moment, he took a few photos of his own territory: the residential building, second-floor villa, canteen, breeding area, planting area, and the sturdy-looking walls. He sent them to Li Ru.
[Li Ru: ???]
[Zhao Xingpeng: I get it. You joined that level-six combat player’s territory? How could you be so stupid, leaving a good lord to work for someone else!]
[Zhao Xingpeng: What’s the use of a great territory if it’s not yours?]
[Zhao Xingpeng: You think it’s something to brag about? Once they’re done with you, they’ll kick you out and you won’t even have a place to cry.]
Li Ru probably showed the photos to Zhao Xingpeng, which is why he sent multiple messages.
Wei Jiaze considered it and replied:
[Wei Jiaze: I’m already level six. What about you?]
[Zhao Xingpeng: So what if you’re level six? With your class, even if you were level sixty, you’d still be trash. I could hang you with one hand and beat you. Are you proud now?]
[Zhao Xingpeng: Ha! Level six is impressive? Everyone’s a level-six combat player. Your level six isn’t the same as mine.]
[Zhao Xingpeng: Seriously, if you have guts, let’s duel in the next dungeon. I’ll crush you single-handedly.]
[…]
Wei Jiaze thought to himself: he seemed to have triggered him.
Just by showing Zhao Xingpeng the various green and blue-grade potions, foods, equipment, and enchantments in his inventory…
Could he actually make him furious?
Wei Jiaze had no intention of bragging. He ignored Zhao Xingpeng’s messages and turned to find Yun Yan to see if there was anything he could help with.
Yan Yiqiu crafted eight more cannons and also made a few of the Gatling guns and A-K4-7s she had learned from the last dungeon.
The cannons and Gatlings were installed in the walls, and Lin Shuya and Yun Zhiyuan selected the first batch of residents to operate them. Mass production wasn’t possible—only a few of each weapon were made, and residents would take turns using them.
As the only life-simulation player in the territory, Yan Yiqiu still had too few hands—she had to do almost everything herself and wished she had a few more clones.
She made a mental note to bring more life-simulation players back if the chance arose.
[Obtained Gatling Gun · White x1, Hot Weapon Engineer EXP +10]
[Obtained A-K4-7 · White x1, Hot Weapon Engineer EXP +10]
[Obtained Crossbow · White x1, Carpenter EXP +10]
[Obtained …]
Two quiet, uneventful days passed.
On the fourth day after leaving the dungeon, the residents rotating watch at the lookout tower noticed something outside the territory. Raising their telescopes, they saw a dense mass of mutated beasts, their red eyes glaring as they charged straight at the territory.
One quickly lowered the telescope and blew a whistle hard:
“Phew—”
“Phew—”
“Phew—”
Three blasts in a row, the sound echoing across the entire territory.
The veteran residents dropped their work and hurriedly pulled the new residents toward the canteen.
“What’s going on?” the new residents asked, bewildered.
The veterans, full of excitement: “Quick, quick! The monsters are besieging the walls! Run to claim positions—if you’re slow, you won’t get a spot!”
The new residents, hearing “monsters at the walls,” immediately imagined the terrifying scenes they had witnessed before. They turned pale: “Positions? What positions? Will we die if we don’t get a spot?”
“I don’t want to die…”
“What are you talking about?” the veteran asked, puzzled. “Of course, we’re going to claim positions and grab weapons to fight! Each small monster gives 300 points, and the chests they drop are yours to keep.”
“The territory’s weapons aren’t enough for everyone, so we have to rush to line up. If you’re late, you miss out on earning points!”
New residents: “Huh?”
They could understand the words individually, but the sentence together sounded confusing. Monsters besieging the territory? Shouldn’t they hide? Why were they going to fight them?
Points didn’t matter compared to life!
Before they could think further, the veterans dragged them to the front of the canteen. There, they were stunned by the long line of residents.
“Stop standing there, move forward!”
Lin Shuya and Yun Zhiyuan handed out weapons to residents in line, including a few children under ten. Even with Yan Yiqiu supplying nearly two thousand more crossbows, it still wasn’t enough for the new batch.
“Gone already? That was fast!”
“Ah! Missed it! Next time I’ll run faster!”
“No need to run next time. Didn’t we say everyone takes turns fighting monsters? You’ll get your chance next round.”
“You’re old, why are you running faster than me? How dare your legs be better than mine?”
The veterans who didn’t get weapons complained loudly.
The new residents, confused and clueless, were led toward the walls by the veterans.
When the territory reached level eight, Yan Yiqiu had reworked it, adding a layer of defense above. Flying monsters would appear later, and without cover on the walls, residents could easily become targets.
Although a little chaotic, everyone got inside the walls before the horde arrived. When the mutated beasts approached, experienced archers fired arrows indiscriminately at the crowd.
The beasts were so dense that precise aiming wasn’t needed—every shot hit its target.
Seeing new residents still frozen, veterans shouted: “Stop standing there, shoot! So many points are waiting for you!”
The new residents snapped out of it and awkwardly drew their bows.
At first, they worried the beasts would break through the walls and eat them, but when the horde left not even a scratch, they relaxed.
Residents who had purchased permission to use cannons, Gatlings, and A-K4-7s were ecstatic, like they were on adrenaline.
“Rat-a-tat-tat-tat—” mimicked a veteran, aiming at the horde.
Another with a cannon loaded gunpowder and fired: “Bang—”
The beasts fell in heaps.
“Oh my gosh, we’re making so much profit!”
That thought consumed everyone’s mind.
Even though hot weapons required points to buy and were limited in quantity (re-purchase allowed only after all official residents had used them once), with 100 points per gunpowder/10 bullets, it was still a net gain.
The hot weapons were far more powerful than crossbows, easily paying for themselves.
Kill!
Yan Yiqiu, along with Yun Yan and Wei Jiaze, went to the unoccupied section of the walls. After giving a brief instruction, she grabbed her axe and charged into the horde.
Wei Jiaze’s heart tensed at first, but remembering her skills in the previous dungeon, he relaxed.
“Don’t worry, Yiqiu won’t get hurt,” Yun Yan said, shooting arrows and enjoying the feeling of two monsters per shot: “Farm the monsters fast! Let’s get more chests to upgrade the territory!”
Wei Jiaze quietly responded and focused on killing monsters.
This batch of mutated beasts was no different from the first, with the same damage and HP—still manageable.
The horde lasted a full hour, half an hour longer than last time.
The beasts’ red eyes returned to normal. They whined twice with their tails and ran off, leaving a field full of corpses that would soon turn into chests.
Yan Yiqiu climbed back onto the walls, listening to cheers from other sections, and received a message from Lin Shuya:
[Lin Shuya: Lunch is ready.]
As soon as the whistle blew, she had messaged Lin Shuya to prepare lunch for residents who hadn’t received weapons yet.
It needed to be a hearty meal to reward the residents.
Of course, residents didn’t pay—she was treating them.
Smiling at Yun Yan and Wei Jiaze, she said: “Let’s go eat. We’ll check our haul while we eat.”
Author’s note:
Changed a small detail—“hunger value” is now “fullness.” Previously, 100 hunger points looked like you were starving… after reconsidering, it made sense. Everything else remains the same!
Also added a 2k nutrition bonus! (Including early-morning updates, today’s total update is 15,000!)
Don’t wait—there’s no update at midnight. Next update is tomorrow at 9 AM!