Lord of the Myriad Worlds

Chapter 399: Everything is Ready

The temple soon came into view.

It was actually very quiet here; there were no idle people running over at this time to seek spiritual tranquility.

In fact, even Paladin Mark was bare-chested, holding a shovel and perfecting the cemetery. Currently, this massive cemetery only had one resident. That was an unlucky bastard from not long ago, whose life was taken by an assault from a mutant creature while the flood peak was passing through.

However, he hadn't obtained the opportunity for resurrection. Now, he could only sleep eternally here. Death was not far away.

"Mark, Mark!"

Seeing Li Wei, Mark trotted over and bowed in greeting. Nowadays, without even needing translation, Li Wei could basically understand what he was saying.

"Mark, the territory's population has increased massively. Since the All-Heavens Temple is a place to comfort human hearts and guide lost souls, you alone are truly unequal to the task. Therefore, I plan to select and cultivate two more Temple Priests. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Mark, Mark."

Mark gestured a few times.

Li Wei shook his head. "No. Although Benjamin, Santiago, Xavier, and Grant—the four of them—meet the requirements, they are simultaneously also Riverside Knights. In the future, I will still need them to hold the fort at the surrounding fortresses; they cannot serve as Temple Priests. Therefore, I hope you communicate with the Gods and lower the conditions a bit.""Mark, Mark!"

Mark was sweating a bit profusely now. We can't do this, ah; Mark's faith towards the Gods is extremely devout.

"Alright, I won't make things difficult for you. Come with me."

Li Wei sighed. Of course the first selection of a Temple Priest had high tier-requirements, but the second time wouldn't be as harsh. The important one was the first; that was for establishing the communication channel with the Gods.

Because right now, Mark was a Three-Star Priest worthy of the name. And what Li Wei currently wanted were merely One-Star Priests.

Soon, arriving inside the temple, Mark devoutly communicated with the Gods. Li Wei also stood to the side, waiting with a face full of devotion. Before long, he received several messages.

[The Three-Star Temple requires two additional One-Star Priests to share the workload of Paladin Mark. You have the following options:]

[Option One: Select Temple Priests from within the territory. The current suitable candidates within the territory number 54, all of whom are Fanatics. You may freely select two from amongst them. Alternatively, you may also absorb all these Fanatics into the All-Heavens Temple system. Doing so can unlock a new troop class profession—Ascetic Profession Card. This is a prerequisite profession for Templars. Friendly Reminder: The Ascetic profession itself will not harbor any schemes or calculations, nor will the All-Heavens Gods demand anything thusly. This is merely a direction for regular territory development, and may ultimately form a theocratic model consisting of unified state and church. The specifics can be explored and decided by yourself.]

[Option Two: Recruit two Ascetics from the Four-Star Temple in Weir City. This action requires the payment of 200 Campaign Points.]

—

Eh?

Li Wei thought for a moment, and first checked the list of Fanatics within his territory. The result immediately made him laugh in anger upon seeing it. That's right, 54 people—no more, no less, precisely the members of his most elite heavy armored cavalry.

Truly interesting.

Alright then, the temple system couldn't be missing. This was an important part of comforting human hearts, resurrecting important members, and stabilizing the territory. People needed faith. However, wishing to develop it vigorously was impossible.

My territory doesn't have Fanatics, only faithful believers.

From now on, anyone who wants to become a Temple Priest must adhere to Mark's standards. If there's truly someone willing to cultivate the vow of silence, then I, Li Wei, will consider them awesome. Otherwise, all of you be fucking obedient and behave yourselves.

Following that, Li Wei didn't hesitate in the slightest to expend 200 Campaign Points, recruiting two One-Star Temple Priests.

With this, his Campaign Points plummeted down to 900 points again.

It seemed wanting to go on a crazy shopping spree in Locke Kingdom would still require patient waiting.

Li Wei washed his hands of the subsequent matters, acting as a hands-off boss and naturally having Mark receive and entertain these two newly arrived Temple Priests.

Leaving the temple, Li Wei headed toward the Magic Well sitting directly opposite.

The All-Heavens Temple was in the southeast corner of the small town, while the Magic Well just so happened to be in the southwest corner. However, according to the planning of the Level 4 City Wall, the temple would be incorporated inside the city walls, while the Magic Well and the soon-to-be constructed Mage Tower would be outside the city.

This planning document was personally finalized by Second Aunt; there had to be a reason.

Walking all the way over, he saw Zhao Xuanxuan and Thomas were both present. The former treated this place as a forging venue, forging some magic components according to blueprints.

The latter was currently carving piece after piece of massive stone blocks. These were all Level 4 Stone blocks mined and transported back from Hathaway's Baron Territory. The entire process had Thomas leading several dozen stonemasons to take charge. From mining to transporting to carving, he couldn't lend the hands of others.

And the things carved onto these stone blocks were all things like magic formations and structures.

When Li Wei walked over, everyone was so busy they couldn't even spare the time to cast an extra glance at him. In the end, it was still Qin Yu who squeezed out a bit of time to come over.

"Respected Lord, congratulations. Substantive Viscount is in sight. I dare bet this kind of promotion speed can rank among the top five in the entire Locke Kingdom."

"I am flattered. Isn't this just the first stroke of the character 'eight' hasn't even been written yet? Do you guys have anything you need my help with here?" Li Wei couldn't fathom this Qin Yu's thoughts.

"There are no longer any problems. At any rate, we are also three Second-Order Casters; our cooperation is quite smooth. I also have to admit, Widow Yang's attainments in the aspect of Potions are indeed living up to her reputation. And Hathaway's talent in parsing magic structures is even more heaven-gifted. Especially with Zhao Xuanxuan this Enchantment Blacksmith, and Thomas this Enchantment Stonemason, it is even more so akin to adding wings to a tiger. Therefore, it can already be confirmed now: successfully building the One-Star Mage Tower within one month will not be a problem whatsoever."

"I can only say, Lord, the foundations of the territory you've conquered are a bit profoundly thick. If it weren't for the fact that I have my own territory, I would have run over and asked the Lord to give me a position as an Advisor."

"Alright, you go get busy. These one or two months should be a rare period of tranquility. But we must also guard against those Barbarians stirring up trouble and flipping the table."

"Of course, if they don't stir up trouble, don't flip the table, and the peace negotiation goes very smoothly, I instead suggest the Lord to send people to occupy some resource points as much as possible. Just like enfeoffing knights. A Substantive Viscount must have at least five vassal barons, right!"

"I have spoken my piece; I'll leave it to the Lord to decide what to glean from it."

After Qin Yu finished speaking, she hurriedly left. Li Wei pondered in place for a long while, then returned to the Territory Building, standing on the rooftop and overlooking the entire territory. During the Task Settlement in the future, the eighty square kilometers of legal territory distributed to him would all expand outwards with this Territory Building as the center.

Eighty square kilometers. It sounds like a lot, but actually, it's just an area of eight kilometers by ten kilometers.

If a sufficient width needed to be guaranteed, it might not even be able to simultaneously cover the Northern Fortress and Southern Fortress.

Of course, in reality, there was also the concept of illegal territory. A Level 4 Territory could in principle possess five hundred square kilometers of illegal territory.

Then a Level 5 Territory could somehow possess six hundred square kilometers, right?

In addition, upon successful completion of the Pioneer City Building Mission, he would also be rewarded with one hundred square kilometers of legal territory. In the end, he could obtain 190 square kilometers of legal territory.

Qin Yu was right; this matter required early planning.

"First of all is the core area of the territory; this is also the location of the Territory Main City. Legal territory can only be placed here. And beyond this, there is still a need to demarcate another two hundred square kilometers of illegal territory. Like this, it would be 390 square kilometers. The demarcated areas must incline towards a north-south alignment as much as possible, because the mountains to the north are richer in natural resources and more worthy of development!"

The relevant terrains rapidly flashed through Li Wei's mind, particularly that mountain range north of the Northern Fortress. The mountain topography there was gentle, the soil fertile; it presented an overall crescent shape, resembling an ear. The Northern Fortress was exactly at the earlobe. In the middle were a full twelve plains of varying sizes, capable of reclaiming tens of thousands of mu of fertile farmland. Supporting a population of tens of thousands again would be completely pressure-free.

Moreover, the terrain of this place was slightly elevated; sheltered by the mountains to the east and west, the climate was mild, rainfall abundant, and there were two mountain streams passing through. It was absolutely an unequivocally excellent place.

"Since it is so, setting the east-west width at ten kilometers, and the north-south depth at thirty-nine kilometers. Assuming the southern end starts calculating from the temple, it actually perfectly encompasses this inter-mountain plain within. Like this, the distance to the Dawn Fortress further north will only be less than fifty-odd kilometers."

"And following that, Riverside Fortress must occupy two hundred square kilometers of illegal territory. If taking Hathaway's Baron Territory as the southern end, and directly going twenty kilometers north, guaranteeing ten kilometers east-to-west will be entirely sufficient."

"And then, what needs to be considered are the Small City Base and Base 349. The former is an important node communicating and connecting with Hathaway's territory; their straight-line distance is less than fifteen kilometers. As long as that Great Bridge there is restored and repaired, this place will be an important strategic locus. Therefore, I will allocate a quota of fifty square kilometers here."

"As for Base 349, I'll reserve another 50-square-kilometer quota. The remaining portion will be left for Dawn Fortress and Southern Fortress."

"However, if things are like this, excluding the slightly special circumstances of Dawn Fortress, it would equate to me enfeoffing six baron fiefdoms, plus one Hathaway; seven vassal barons. Isn't this spreading the stall out a bit too large?"

Thinking up to here, Li Wei himself felt somewhat unsure in his heart.

What kind of virtue and ability did he possess, ah!

If it truly didn't work out, he could only abandon Base 349.

If that was the case, although the stall was large, it wouldn't be too scattered and fragmented.

For example, Riverside Fortress and Hathaway's Baron Territory sharing a Magic Well. One occupied the high point on the South Bank, one occupied the fertile lands of the North Bank. Moreover, the latter was within the firing range coverage of the former. The terrain of the former was treacherous, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Even if this place was illegal territory, enemies wanting to attack would have to weigh their options time and time again.

Next were the Small City Base and Hathaway's Baron Territory. Similarly echoing north and south, communicating via the Great Bridge, similarly possessing a Magic Well as support.

Hathaway's Baron Territory took root directly in the Neanderthal Hills. That side was rich in natural products, perfectly suited for trade and commerce with the North Bank. Crucially, it could also communicate with Riverside Fortress via water routes, and with Hathaway's Baron Territory via the river embankment highway.

Then following along downstream, it could also communicate with the Southern Fortress. This single water route would connect the three blocks together.

"Alright, let's just do it like this for now."

Li Wei immediately issued temporary garrison orders via the Prestige Card. Because he currently wasn't a Substantive Viscount yet, he couldn't enfeoff barons... Mhm, speaking of which, could a Substantive Viscount enfeoff barons?

Forget it, my territory, my rules!

Since Hathaway could become his vassal baron, why couldn't he enfeoff? This proved it was permissible.

[Acting under the identities of a Substantive Baron and Titular Viscount, you have issued administrative orders: Commanding Territory Advisor Li Yue to garrison and hold the fort at Riverside Fortress, concurrently overseeing Hathaway's Baron Territory; rewarded with one hundred mu of farmland (must be reclaimed by yourself).]

[Command: Riverside Knight Javier as the Garrison Captain of Riverside Fortress, Riverside Knight Seth as the Garrison Captain of Hathaway's Baron Territory. Both shall heed Li Yue's dispatch.]

[You have issued an administrative order: Commanding Territory Advisor Thomas to garrison and hold the fort at the Small City Base; commanding Riverside Knight Paul as the Garrison Captain of the Small City Base.]

[You have issued an administrative order: Commanding Territory Advisor Zhao Xuanxuan to garrison and hold the fort at Southern Fortress; commanding Riverside Knight Benjamin as the Garrison Captain of Southern Fortress.]

[You have issued an administrative order: Commanding Riverside Knight Grant to garrison and hold the fort at Northern Fortress; commanding Riverside Knight Xavier as the Garrison Captain of Northern Fortress.]

—

After issuing these appointments, Li Wei didn't linger any longer, heading directly for Riverside Fortress. Nowadays, what needed to be done had been done, what needed to be prepared had been prepared. He awaited only the results of the peace negotiation.

Who knew whether the negotiations would succeed?

Would those Neanderthals be willing to have the situation grasped and manipulated?

Could that Locke Kingdom Special Envoy control the situation?

Li Wei was very much looking forward to it.

(End of this chapter)