Chapter 152: Chapter 150: Core Plot
In the Upper City District of Yalidu City, after Gu Xi took control, he quickly went to engage in battle in the Medieval District, so it has not been cleaned up yet.
The ground is filled with spoils that have turned into Negative Energy Crystals.
"Let’s get someone to clean this up later. With so much negative energy, I think we won’t be short of money for a while, whether it’s for military campaigns or building construction."
"Yes, considering how long we saved up negative energy for the Longgu Laboratory, had I known, we would have engaged in this battle earlier."
Luna nodded in agreement.
"The next battle won’t be as smooth, Luna, you should keep an eye on the passage to the Magic Plant District to prevent an enemy invasion.
Also, pay more attention to the situation over at Yaliduvi Tower; we don’t know much about the other places or where those newly replicated cities are.
Yaliduvi Tower is likely our next target.
Conquering it might allow Yalidu City to reach level 4.
So regardless of what we build next, keep an eye on Yaliduvi Tower."
"Alright."
Luna acknowledged, and while speaking, Gu Xi and the others arrived inside the Upper City District.
This Upper City District was designed after the original Upper City District of Victoria City.
All the buildings match the architectural style of Yalidu City’s Main City District, but they are small estates with gardens.
It is clear that people with wealth, identity, and status lived here then.
So, the houses are relatively larger, with servant and maid quarters.
However, Gu Xi is not here to marvel at the architecture, for soon, many unused buildings will be demolished to make way for new ones, regardless of being owner or servant quarters—demolition is inevitable.
Gu Xi is here to look for distinct buildings.
He’s curious why a plot has been designated separately as a core plot for constructing a Magic Tower.
Following the map, they arrived at an open space near the edge of the Upper City District.
According to the map, this is the core plot designated for building a Magic Tower.
Upon arrival, Gu Xi and the others saw an inconspicuous short staff stuck in the center of this open space.
This short staff must have been here for many years, almost merging with the ground. If not for the lack of anything else here besides weeds, no one might have noticed it.
"Is this another Sacred Artifact?"
An idea suddenly flashed in Gu Xi’s mind as he turned to Luna.
Luna also appeared puzzled as she had seen replicated Sacred Artifacts before, but it wasn’t this short staff. That Sacred Artifact was always kept in a small palace in the center of the Upper City District.
Luna planned to show Gu Xi that Sacred Artifact after things settled here to decide the best course of action for it.
She had no clue about the short staff here.
Seeing Luna’s puzzled expression, Gu Xi hurriedly moved forward to pull out the short staff.
Suddenly, a "ding" sound echoed in Gu Xi’s ear.
[Do you wish to pull out the Staff of Nature? Removing it will revert this plot to a regular large plot.]
"The Staff of Nature?"
Gu Xi thought for a while but realized he had never heard of it before. However, based on the information at hand, it seemed to relate to the Nature elements.
It had no direct link to their Undead lineage. He planned to ask more about it later.
For now, the Staff of Nature was best left as is.
Pulling it out would turn this core plot into a regular large plot, which is not what Gu Xi needed.
What he wanted was a plot for building a Magic Tower.
"Alright, this is something called the Staff of Nature, making this place a Magic Land, and pulling it out would disperse the magic concentrated here.
Thus, it would no longer be suitable for building a Magic Tower. Let’s leave it alone for now and go find the Sacred Artifact, Luna."
Upon hearing about the Staff of Nature, Luna fell into deep thought.
"Luna, Luna, what’s on your mind?"
Seeing Luna unresponsive, Gu Xi called out several times.
Luna snapped out of it, "Sir, did you call me?"
"Yes, let’s go find the Sacred Artifact, but were you pondering something about the Staff of Nature?"
"Yes, Sir, without the mention, I might not have recalled, but you mentioning it revived some memories."
Learning that Luna knew about the Staff of Nature, Gu Xi curiously inquired further.
"Tell me about it."
"It’s said the Staff of Nature is a tradition in Britain. Every British Lord receives a short staff made from a tree branch from an elder when leaving home.
They are to walk with it until it sticks in the ground and can’t be pulled out.
They believe magically imbued staffs indicate the most suitable city-building locations.
As long as the staff remains stuck, the city will continue to exist on this land."
Listening to Luna, Gu Xi realized this Staff of Nature was akin to British geomantic practices.
Though it seemed a tad unreliable as a geomantic technique.
However, Gu Xi understood that this was likely why the Staff of Nature had been left untouched all these years.
Regardless of its validity, Gu Xi benefitted from having a core plot here for building a Magic Tower.
That alone was enough for Gu Xi.
No need to dwell on it beyond that.
"So that’s what the Staff of Nature means; it seems Luna, you’re quite familiar with cities. We’ll leave it in place for now, and decide later if it should remain or be built into the Magic Tower based on the situation.
Let’s find the Sacred Artifact now. Once found, I need to return to Scattered Immortal Garden, as we still lack many Architectural Design Plans. I plan to search there; now’s not the time to waste."
"Certainly, Sir, please follow me."
Luna did not hesitate further and led Gu Xi towards the center of the Upper City District.
She clearly remembered seeing the Sacred Artifact there before, despite the passage of time and changes in stewardship, she believed it would still be there.
The Sacred Artifact was too large for an ordinary person to carry off.