As he returned to his own small encampment, Yang Zicang, still in the sky, already saw many figures moving about.
Though only a little over a month had passed since he left, the appearance of the settlement had undergone earth-shattering changes.
–Jiazi is back!–
With this shout, many people turned to look at the giant carpet slowly descending at the edge of the plot.
Lyu Zhi, now with a prosthetic leg, limped out from a brown stone fort at the edge of the plot, looking up as Yang Zicang descended with his cargo.
In the surrounding fields, at least two or three hundred people gathered in this direction, gazing at this man who had become famous throughout the entire Lost Frequency Land as if he were a star.
–Why are there so many people?–
Yang Zicang stared curiously at the unfamiliar faces and the rows of wooden cabins.
Several murky wells had been opened up, forming a small pond. On the empty lot not far away, there was even an Enightmare pickup truck parked; the loosely tightened gas cap gave off a faint scent of blood, attracting a few hovering insects. There were also many more wheelbarrows and beasts tethered by nose ropes.
–This isn’t much at all.-
Robin Lo, who was helping unload the giant carpet, chuckled heartily. With a shout, a crowd of people came forward to help unload the bundled fabrics and clothes brought back from Rose Creek.
Teacher Chen dashed out of the house, –Zicang, you’re back! Haha, how do you like it? Quite a change, right?-
Yeah, quite big.
Leaning on his crutch, Lü Zhi embraced Yang Zicang, then threw an arm around his shoulder and said, –That goes without saying. Our place has quite a reputation! Come on, let’s head inside.-
They entered the ancient otherworldly building, also replicated by the Lost-Mind Engine. As they walked, people inside rushed over in surprise to greet them.
No sooner had they sat down than Zuo Feixian burst in, stirring up a cloud of dust. He gleefully wrapped his arms around them and, laughing wildly, tried to lift Yang Zicang up to see if he’d put on any weight.
–Cut it out,- Teacher Cheng said as he poured tea.
–Zicang, after our Autumn Ordering Meeting last month landed a ton of orders from Hub Town, the reputation of the Big Party Construction Goods Team has grown even stronger. People from quite a few nearby shed areas come here to trade. And, haha, a lot of them came and just didn’t want to leave.-
Yang Zicang raised the teacup to his lips, about to take a sip, but upon hearing this, he looked up curiously and asked:
–Is it because it’s safer here?-
Teacher Chen glanced at Lü Zhi, who looked a bit sheepish. –Exactly. After Lü Zhi mastered that illusion treasure, he can instantly project his spiritual power over a dozen kilometers, and even unleash mental attacks covering a range of twenty or thirty li. With defense like that, which shed on the Lost-Frequency Land dares to claim it can do the same?-
–Haha!-
Hearing Teacher Chen’s words, everyone in the room burst into laughter, making no effort to hide their pride.
Yang Zicang also felt a deep sense of comfort.
–A treasure that brings benefits to more people is a true treasure.-
–It’s not just safety. We’ve got good water, plenty of farmland, and even a pharmacy and a general store. Hey, who wouldn’t want to come here? Even Aya showed up and refuses to go back to Ningyang no matter what.-
At the mention of Aya, several people in the room cackled and exchanged lewd glances with raised eyebrows. That woman, who had been trafficked to the Ningyang shantytown, was already beautiful. Now that she’d settled here, these coarse men’s hearts itched with desire, and they kept flocking to her every few days to curry favor.
–Everyone did well,- the young man said, turning to Lü Zhi. –Lü Zhi, from now on, that treasure will be under your exclusive care. You must protect this land that Chin Mong left for us.-
Lü Zhi nodded heavily.
–But I still can’t fully unleash its power the way it did in those mountains.-
–How can a living person compare with a dead one? To fully unleash its power, you’d have to abandon your physical body and merge your psychic body with it. Don’t ever think about that.-
Teacher Chen said, –I think in the future, this place will definitely become a super-large settlement rivaling the ‘Carefree Trade Zone.’ But as the population grows, there will be matters of construction and planning… Zicang, do you think you can find trustworthy people from those in your previous city who have experience in this area?-
Zuo Feixian quickly added, –And there are more materials—besides wells, riverbeds can also be used. Our snow slopes have already melted. You know what that means, right? So the maintenance of the remaining land plots also requires professionals. Letting them develop on their own will only lead to desolation.-
A tanned stranger said, –We brought back some fertile terrain engines from Six Mountain Ridge. They should yield good farmland in the future. If there are small streams around, it’ll be much richer.-
–And there’s the construction issue. If we use wooden boards for so many people, the trees simply won’t be enough. Shed Master Song plans to come over soon and will bring some boards, but his people will already be cramped. Also, to reduce annual replacements, we all think it’s best to acquire more construction-type ‘Amnesia Engines’.-
Yang Zicang felt a headache coming on.
He himself had no experience in urban planning, but fortunately the board of directors at the Monster Hunter Alliance kept many such –idle people-. At that moment, Yang Zicang also began to understand some of the headquarters’ difficulties. He sighed that although they were a bit despicable toward combatants, at least they allowed those with knowledge to survive.
–As for this matter… we can’t expand blindly. Security issues must also be considered.-
Speaking of security, Yang Zicang thought of Yuan Kun and asked casually. Several people said that kid had formed his own mercenary freight team, the –Great Wilderness Wandering Spear Team-, often hired to transport goods and hunt for the settlement. He had completely gone solo.
Robin Lo and Xiao Liu came in carrying two piles of clothes and casually tossed them to Zuo Feixian. –Divide them up.-
Yang Zicang looked at the incoming Robin Lo and said:
–For planning matters, just consult Robin Lo. From now on, these decision-making tasks will mainly rely on his efforts.-
He looked at the slender, bespectacled Teacher Chen. –Also, Teacher Chen, from now on you don’t need to bother with other tasks—just focus on producing our fossil relic equipment.-
–How many do you want?-
–Heh.- Yang Zicang said meaningfully, –It’s not a matter of how many. I’ll tell you the specifics later.-
After taking a walk outside, Yang Zicang brought Robin Lo to Hub Town.
On the train.
–So, do you have the confidence to manage this settlement well?-
–You trust me that much? Aren’t you leaving in three months? What, too comfortable over there to want to come back?-
–Heh.- Yang Zicang rolled his eyes at him. –You know how formidable an existence like Xingmiao is. Yet even someone that powerful couldn’t stop their world from perishing. What do you think our meager strength counts for?-
Yang Zicang relaxed, resting his hands behind his head as he leaned back on the train seat, and said with a hint of helplessness:
–Even after I resign, I need to find a way to improve my strength faster. Otherwise, a disaster like the sky collapsing and the earth caving in might come any day, right?-
–Improving strength…-
Robin Lo lowered his head to look at his own chest. –To be honest, if it weren’t for you, I might still be in the city trying to improve my Moxel alone. But now, you already possess the ultimate power I dream of, and yet you still want to go higher.-
He murmured, as if pouring out his heart.
–But I… just can’t see any direction to further improve my strength.-
Yang Zicang studied the man—a seemingly booze-addicted, ordinary-looking fellow with a paunch. Yet the real Robin Lo was someone who, in this nightmare-level world, had crawled and clawed his way forward alone, painstakingly compiling thousands of detailed records in a relentless attempt to upgrade his Moxel.
A man like this knew how to keep a low profile, yet never wavered from his original goal or drive.
That was precisely why Yang Zicang felt comfortable entrusting this haven—a place brimming with people’s dreams for a better life—into the fat man’s hands.
–So that’s one of the reasons I’m here today.-
–What reason?-
–Quadrilateral isn’t the end. The power of the bloodline runs deeper, and my last attempt to get that bloodline statue seems to have run into some trouble.-
Robin Lo’s eyes flew wide. –What, what the hell? Your attempt to get the bloodline statue—when did that even happen!-
–Let me figure things out first, then I’ll tell you.-
……
Inside Morri’s room, Yang Zicang closed the door and locked eyes with the man.
–Do you know what’s in that postmark world we visited?-
–Looks like you’ve picked up on something.- A flicker of a smile crossed Morri’s eyes. –Alright, I admit it. Haocheng left some intel in there that needs decoding. But don’t pry too much, or I might end up altering even more of the future.-
Robin Lo, seated beside them, stared blankly at their exchange.
Even Boboli wasn’t let in on this conversation… yet here he was, given a seat? Hmm…
Upon hearing this, Yang Zicang straightened up in relief. –I see, it’s information about the future. No wonder those guys want to get it.-
He finally understood why someone like Han Mingxiao, who had barely managed to infiltrate the Lost Illusion Company and remain hidden until now, would risk exposure to enter the Saint-level Lost-Mind Force Field corresponding to the Postal Emblem.
–So it was set by Hao Cheng. In that case, I won’t ask.-
That never-met-before guy named –Hong Hao Cheng- put Morri in a dangerous situation where he might be erased by time and space to deliver information, but he also bore the risk of changing fate.
–Zi Zang, regarding the Void Zero weapon you mentioned earlier, I have a question.- Seeing Yang Zicang finish asking his doubts, Morri said, –Since people from other cities find it very difficult to enter City 11, if you go in so easily to create weapons, will there be restrictions?-
–There are indeed restrictions, and very significant ones.-
Both of them looked at Yang Zicang.
–Not only can we not transmit that kind of weapon outward, we can’t even manufacture it. However, if we just bring people in, that’s fine.-
–Bring what?!-
–You want to bring people in? This weapon is so terrifying, how can we defend against it if it gets out?-
–In that destroyed City 11, people from cities ranked in the top 25 can all enter, so Void Zero weapons have already been obtained by some experts, but they keep it secret. Bringing some people in won’t make it rampant; instead, it can form a check. Moreover…-
–Moreover?- Robin Lo’s back instantly straightened; clearly Yang Zicang was about to say something important.
–If we can also attach a soul-binding core to the fossil relic equipment, then it would easily make the Virtual Zero Chronos cancel each other out, just like clashing weapons.-
–Fossil relic equipment?- Robin Lo pondered for a moment, then his eyes suddenly flashed. –You mean that otherworldly ancient gear Teacher Chen studied?-
Robin Lo felt his blood ignite, as if countless –celestial treasures- were raining down from the void onto him.
–That’s exactly the kind of stuff we can make! So that’s your plan, you little rascal!-
Selling spears is worse than selling shields—once a sword is drawn, everyone is in danger, and the once-unpopular otherworldly equipment will see its demand skyrocket overnight.
Even after stepping out of Morri’s new house, Robin Lo’s head was still spinning. He turned to look at Yang Zicang, who appeared quite relaxed.
This kid is hiding quite a few secrets.
He lightly licked his lips and stepped back two paces.
Let me see what other goodies you’ve got hidden, kid.
Robin Lo closed his eyes. The ring on his chest glowed, and the quadrilateral slowly rotated. All of a sudden…
Pft!
Two streams of blood spurted from Robin Lo’s nostrils.
Yang Zicang turned his head. –What’s wrong?-
–N… nothing.- Robin Lo wiped his nosebleed.
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