Strongest Lord by Opening Blind Boxes

Chapter 85: Notification of the Fourth Wave Void Invasion

When Wang Yi arrived at the First Dining Hall, it was around eight or nine in the morning, and everyone was already bustling with activity.

Pei Zhi and Guangkun had already tasted Hai Shen’s stir-fried noodles and thought they were a taste of heaven.

The two of them were now sitting in the main courtyard of the First Dining Hall.

They had already met with the young lady, paid their respects, and were now watching Pei Xue eat her Hai Shen stir-fried noodles with longing eyes.

Pei Xue had already reported to Jelena and been assigned a task. After breakfast, she was to return to the farm and conduct a "census" with Li Huaizheng.

As for Zhang Dashan, Yang Qingniu, and the others, they had already gone to Liuhe Farm to recruit soldiers and workers.

Guangkun couldn’t return to his village yet, as he still hadn’t met the legendary boss.

The boss had told him yesterday to come to Eggshell Castle to discuss the construction of the farm.

"Good morning, Boss!"

The voice of a Dining Hall worker, Liu Cuihua, made Guangkun jolt and shoot to his feet. He looked toward the voice and saw Wang Yi.

Wang Yi nodded at Liu Cuihua. "Get some breakfast for me... Your dining hall seems short-staffed, too. You can go recruit some more people from Liuhe Farm."

"Yes, Qinggu already spoke to Captain Zhang about it. He said he’d arrange for some people to come over!"

"Good," Wang Yi nodded.

Pei Zhi and Guangkun quickly stepped forward and bowed. Pei Xue stopped eating her noodles, wiped her hands, and bowed as well.

Wang Yi told the others to get back to their business but asked Guangkun to stay. "Those 120 mu of fertile land outside the farm," he said, "I’m entrusting them to you from now on."

Guangkun said, "Rest assured, my Lord! I was just wondering... what will the land tax be?"

"Land tax?"

Wang Yi knew nothing about this world’s tax system. He asked, "What are the current land taxes in Kaiyuan County?"

"My Lord, for those who can farm, the official tax is one-tenth of the harvest. There’s also a head tax of 30 copper per month, and each household must provide two months of corvée labor per year! But the Government Office never follows the rules. They just storm into villages and take what they want by force. They take less if they like the look of you, more if they don’t. Living in a place like Pei Family Village, where we can farm, is actually less comfortable than living in a remote mountain village. At least there, you don’t have the government coming to your door to extort you and conscript your men, and you don’t have to worry about Mountain Bandits or other robbers. You have fewer troubles."

Wang Yi listened carefully. ’The Golden Sparrow Country is unbelievably corrupt,’ he thought. ’With a system like this, it’s no wonder bandits are rampant.’

After a moment’s thought, Wang Yi said, "Here, with me, there is no corvée labor and no forced levies. Initially, you’ll receive wages. Later, you’ll work as hired farmhands. All produce from the fields will be turned over to the territory, and in return, I guarantee you’ll receive wages, have enough to eat, and eat well. How does that sound?"

"No corvée labor? No forced levies? And we get paid wages? Of course that’ll work!"

"Good. We’ll do it that way for now. Once I have seeds and farm tools, I’ll have someone send them to the farm. As for wages, we’ll discuss the details after you start working. Is there anything else?"

"No, no, that’s all!"

"Then get back to it."

Wang Yi nodded. Just then, Liu Cuihua brought over a plate of stir-fried noodles. "Boss, you have to try this! It’s the Hai Shen stir-fried noodles. Everyone says they’re delicious!"

Wang Yi laughed at her words. "So where’s the Hai Cen?" he joked.

"Hai Shen is right here!"

The chef, Hai Shen, walked out from the kitchen, beaming. He was delighted that the stir-fried noodles he had created were so popular.

His father, Hai Pei, hid in the kitchen, not daring to show his face.

’I’m too ashamed to face the Boss... but how am I supposed to brew wine? Forget it. I’ll go try my luck again today and see if I can find a good mountain spring...’

Hai Pei muttered.

Wang Yi, for his part, ate two servings of the Hai Shen stir-fried noodles. They were excellent. Just as he was thinking about heading to the Octagonal Cage to check on Nangong Jin’s recruitment efforts, he suddenly received a system notification.

"Ding! Attention, Player. The fourth wave of the void invasion will begin in 12 hours. Evil forces from the Chaotic Void are stirring. Please prepare your defenses!"

"Ding! Tip: The intensity of the fourth wave of the void invasion will be significantly increased. You and your territory’s Heart of Chaos have the highest threat level and will be prioritized by low-level invaders. However, please be aware that the invaders are bent on destroying your territory’s buildings and are not without intelligence. High-level invaders may formulate invasion strategies or targeted tactics!"

"Ding! Tip: If you are killed or the Heart of Chaos is destroyed, you will lose your status as a Lord. Your territory will become unclaimed, and all of its functional buildings and facilities will cease to operate. Your subordinates will either selectively forget your existence or die in your name. Please respond with the utmost care."

"Ding! Tip: Void Rifts will appear at random locations outside your territory. The number is not fixed—there may be one or several. The invasion will last for a minimum of 6 hours, with the exact duration being random. When the time is up, the invading forces will retreat, and the Void Rifts will close."

"Ding! Tip: Where there is danger, there is also opportunity. Killing invaders offers a chance to obtain loot. You are encouraged to kill as many as possible, provided you can ensure your own safety."

Wang Yi’s mind snapped to attention.

’The fourth wave of the void invasion is finally here!’

He dared not be careless and immediately summoned everyone to prepare a defensive strategy.

「Meanwhile, in Kaiyuan County」

In the rear courtyard of the County Yamen, County Magistrate Qiao Meng was just about to pull his young concubine close and go back to sleep when he, too, received the system notification about the fourth wave of the void invasion.

"Mad, there goes my good mood!"

Qiao Meng shot up, thoroughly annoyed.

’I just got rid of that huge pain, Yang Wanli, and managed to fool Yue Aqi, and now there’s a void invasion!’

Qiao Meng quickly activated his A-rank Lord Talent, [Avoid Battle]. It consumed a full 5,000 points of Chaos Energy, but it granted him exemption from the upcoming fourth wave of the void invasion.

’This is the county seat, after all. So many people live and work here in peace. As their paternal official, how could I possibly allow monsters to appear? However...’

Qiao Meng’s brow furrowed.

’I can get an exemption from the monster invasion, but it costs Chaos Energy. I got a Chaos Crystal Stone before, but my Chaos Energy is almost gone now. What am I going to do about the fifth wave? Can I even gather enough Chaos Energy to get another exemption by then?’

’And if I can’t? What then? Rely on that one Government Official under my command to fend off void monsters?’

’No, this won’t do. I have to replenish my Chaos Energy, or I’m finished sooner or later!’

As this thought crossed his mind, Qiao Meng started to get up to find his Master. He was going to issue a proclamation and scour the entire county for Chaos Crystal Stones, Chaos Blind Boxes, and the like. Anyone who turned them in would be handsomely rewarded!

"My Lord!"

His young concubine purred from the bed, "I’ve already untied my sash... Where are you going?"

"I have official business!"

"What business is so urgent? Can’t it wait for a few quick thrusts?"

Qiao Meng thought about it. ’She has a point.’ He took off his outer robe and got back onto the soft couch.

...

「At the same time, downstream on the Li River」

Aboard a large ship near the mouth of the river, Xiang Tianchen was gazing out at the sea.

’This trip ashore was a huge loss,’ Xiang Tianchen mused. ’That damn Yang Wanli... he really went for the kill. Good thing I managed to outperform myself. I can’t be so reckless in the future. Even if I’m going to scout his territory, I need to be fully prepared.’

Just as Xiang Tianchen was thinking this, a palm-sized Flying Sword suddenly streaked through the air and stopped before him.

It was a Flying Sword Communication.

Xiang Tianchen reached out and swiped his hand over the Small Sword’s blade. A crisp, female voice immediately echoed in his mind: "Void invasion. Return at once!"

’A void invasion? Will I even make it back in time?’

Not daring to delay, Xiang Tianchen retrieved the messenger Flying Sword, then immediately mounted his own sword. He soared into the air with Sword Control, leaving the people on the ship gasping in astonishment.