Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Building City Walls and Another Expedition to the Mine
Zong Shen placed his hopes of obtaining Purple Soul in the mine.
He prepared to try his luck at the mine again!
Of course, he needed to return to the territory first.
To deal with the cattle and sheep and the newly acquired blueprints in his hand, as well as to research new technologies.
Zong Shen looked at the farmers beside him and the ten cattle with some worry.
Sitanos Village is a full fifty to sixty kilometers from the territory.
Based on the pace of these farmers and grassland cattle, it would take at least eight to nine hours of trekking.
By the time they reached the territory, it would likely be deep into the night.
He had to divide his forces; he couldn’t let them delay his actions.
Zong Shen glanced at his subordinates.
Currently, there were four soldiers: Favide, Madeleine, Lensa, and Aisha.
To deal with the dangers on the road and during the night, at least two should stay behind.
"Favide, Aisha, you come with me back to the territory first; we have other tasks this afternoon."
"Madeleine, Lensa, you escort the farmers and cattle back to the territory."
Zong Shen decided to take Favide and Aisha with him; they would have an advantage dealing with those Spider Web Monsters in the mine.
The team began to split.
Favide and Aisha rode grassland horses to Zong Shen’s side.
After he finished instructing them, the three rode their mounts at full speed.
They maintained full speed, advancing for another hour before returning to the territory.
It was already past three in the afternoon.
There were less than four hours until dark.
Just enough time to wander around the mine once more.
The more Spider Web Monsters they eliminated today, the fewer they would have to eliminate tomorrow.
When Zong Shen and his team returned,
Korby and his team had already escorted thirteen kobolds back to the territory.
Luna and the two newly joined wolf cavalry were still on the road with the cattle and sheep.
After a brief rest, the kobolds became part of San Pang’s unit, tasked with mining stone full-time.
The farmers no longer mined stone; they were only responsible for collecting wood and hemp resources.
The basic labor of the territory began to become specialized and organized.
Zong Shen took out the sixty pieces of roasted meat he had prepared before leaving and distributed them.
He also made another sixty pieces of roasted meat.
After distributing the food, the kobolds’ loyalty increased slightly.
Next, Zong Shen headed to the Territory Technology Research Institute.
He spent 50 wood, 20 iron, and 1 Basic Elemental Crystal to start researching Level 1 [Storage Shed Type I].
The territory’s harvest was increasing, and so was the demand for storage grids.
Furthermore, Zong Shen discovered that the storage grids did not provide an absolute indefinite shelf life for fresh meat items.
The previously obtained meat no longer had the "fresh" prefix.
So Zong Shen planned to process it as soon as possible, either roasting or drying it.
After doing all this, Zong Shen took out the [Small Ranch Construction Map].
This was a complete building, requiring no resources and capable of holding one hundred cattle, requiring a 50m × 50m plot of empty land for the building footprint.
Hay could be placed in it typically, or it could be used for grazing outside the enclosure.
The nearby area was a vast grassland and pasture, so feeding would not be a problem.
Zong Shen directly placed the building next to the territory.
The ranch began to construct automatically.
Then Zong Shen started considering the location of the Level 1 city wall.
This would serve as the core inner wall for the future.
Undoubtedly, it would be a massive project.
However, Zong Shen could begin building it step by step.
The small courtyard faced south with its entrance to the north.
To the south lies a flat grassland, and beyond fifty kilometers to the north is the [Burial Ground of Zero].
Further ahead were the temple and the mountains where the Goblin Tribe was located.
Zong Shen pondered a bit and decided to construct a square with a radius of 100 meters centered around the small courtyard, building four straight sections of wall.
Each section would be 200 meters long, forming a small inner wall. If expansion was needed in the future, relocation would be an option.
This area could be entirely covered by the territory’s two Elemental Arrow Towers.
Golden lines began to appear before Zong Shen’s eyes.
The Guide Module had already automatically outlined the specific locations of the city walls for him.
Zong Shen walked to where the lines appeared and began placing the city walls.
The territory currently had 452 units of wood and 384 units of hemp.
Zong Shen first used 200 units of hemp to make 20 hemp ropes.
Then he placed the four wall projections.
He summoned four farmers to start construction.
In 42 minutes, there would be a forty-meter section of the wall here.
Since he had decided to build city walls, Zong Shen’s focus would be on collecting wood and hemp.
These two resources were significant consumers for Tier One City Walls, and without Tier One City Walls, Tier Two City Walls could not be covered.
He went to the [Market] to retrieve what was previously listed for sale.
He obtained twenty Basic Elemental Crystals, five Basic Wood Runes, 200 wood, 80 iron, 50 stone, and 50 hemp.
Then he checked the market trades.
The current lords were becoming wealthier, and the prices in sales were stabilizing. The exchange rates for basic resources were gradually increasing.
Zong Shen listed three portions of [Moon Holy Water], each set to exchange for 250 wood and 250 hemp.
[Moon Holy Water] was always in demand. Many lords were not yet launching major construction projects, focusing instead on exploration and combat, where this [Moon Holy Water] could significantly alter the outcome of battles. So, it was well-loved by many high-level player lords.
After doing this, Zong Shen opened [Construction] and selected [Tier Two Market], covering it.
A farmer came over to hammer away.
After the market was completed, Zong Shen went into the small courtyard to first collect the Moon God Spring produced in the first half of the day, then went to the [Communication Crystal Tower].
He was presented with two options.
[Create Communication Crystal]
[Build Communication Node]
Zong Shen chose the first option.
[Communication Crystal]
[Required Materials: Basic-level Magic Energy Crystal ×1, Basic Elemental Crystal ×3]
[Production Time: 1 minute]
Zong Shen made five of them.
They were numbered 1/2/3/4/5.
He kept number 1 for his own use and gave number 2 to San Pang.
Number three was given to Korby.
Of course, there was still one thing left to do; he couldn’t let the Dwarf Uncle remain idle.
Zong Shen handed over all the skeletal materials he had.
He instructed the Dwarf Uncle to forge ten or eight items freely.
After completing all this, Zong Shen prepared to commence the second round of the expedition.
It had been nearly half a day since the burning of the Silk Cave.
It was about time for another mining expedition.
The territory still had a full complement of twelve wolf cavalry as well as Mapple, Favide, Tasuya, and Aisha.
Zong Shen left six wolf cavalry to guard the home.
He called upon Tasuya and Aisha.
"I’m planning to take you with me on an expedition, but you can’t argue."
The two of them snorted coldly, each considering it silently as an agreement.
Zong Shen breathed a sigh of relief and then called upon Favide and Mapple.
They all mounted their steeds and set off again!
Led by Korby, six wolf riders paved the way in front.
Zong Shen rode Pigsy, running at the back of the line.
Advancing once more towards the mine in the northeast!