Chapter 111 - 85: Clue to the Holy Altar, Magical Bread

Chapter 111: Chapter 85: Clue to the Holy Altar, Magical Bread

Shen Xing withdrew his gaze and looked toward the two Moon Wells beside the statue, which were emitting a soft, clear glow.

Two days had passed, and a layer of clear water had already collected at the bottom of the wells.

He approached and collected all the water.

[Acquired: Moon Spring Water * 5.5 liters]

...

After collecting the water, Shen Xing went to the bluestone street area of his territory.

Across from the houses, an ancient, quaint two-story building stood silently. It was the [Hero Tavern].

’The last recruitment failed, and the cooldown just ended today. Let’s see if I can recruit some new people this time.’

After absorbing Soul Stones for the past few days, Shen Xing had already reached Level 8, and the tavern’s recruitment range had increased to eight kilometers.

’The chances of recruiting someone new should be a bit higher than last time.’

With that in mind, he directly clicked ’Hero Summoning’.

HUMMM...

The tavern’s wooden door swung open on its own, and streams of white light poured out from within.

After finishing up, Shen Xing was about to go patrol the area outside his territory when he suddenly caught the alluring scent of wheat.

"SNIFF SNIFF... It smells so good!"

Many of the soldier types in the territory also caught the scent.

They looked toward the source of the smell and saw a plume of hot air rising from the chimney of the Food Processing Plant not far away.

A moment later, a young, dark-skinned man came walking over quickly.

"Lord, the first batch of bread is done!" Monday said, his face flush with excitement.

"Oh? They’re out of the oven already?" Shen Xing’s interest was piqued. "Let’s go take a look."

"Yes!"

Monday turned and led the way toward the Food Processing Plant.

They soon arrived inside the plant.

Finished loaves of bread, fresh from the oven, were stacked neatly on several rows of iron racks. The air was filled with the distinct, toasty aroma of wheat flour.

It was just that... the shape of the bread left much to be desired.

Some looked like pillows that had been sat on, others were as flat as pancakes, and a few were baked to a charcoal-black crisp.

"This bread... how did you make it?" Shen Xing asked with a strange look.

"Lord, I found two slaves who had spent some time in a city bakery and had them make the bread."

Monday answered honestly, "First, we added a certain ratio of water, then kneaded the flour into dough, and finally put it in the oven."

"But... the finished product does look a bit ugly," he said, lowering his head in embarrassment.

Shen Xing sighed inwardly upon hearing this.

’As expected... specialized jobs require specialized skills. These Slave Laborers are fine for farming and mining, but asking them to bake bread is really asking too much of them.’

’Even though the Food Processing Plant has the tools and equipment for direct production, you still need some basic skills.’

’Otherwise, the food you make ends up looking like this.’

He didn’t say anything more and simply picked up a loaf of bread.

[Acquired: Moonlight Silver Radiance Bread (Blue)]

...

’Hmm? Blue-quality bread?’

Shen Xing’s interest was piqued. He stared at the oval-shaped loaf in his hand, and its Attributes appeared before his eyes.

[Moonlight Silver Radiance Bread]

[Quality: Blue (Excellent)]

[Effect: Greatly increases satiety upon consumption and grants the ’Moonlight Nourishment’ effect (Increases stamina recovery speed by 35% for the next 15 hours).]

(Note: A special bread made from Moonlight Wheat. It contains powerful vitality, and long-term consumption can effectively enhance one’s Constitution.)

...

’Moonlight Nourishment, increases stamina recovery speed?’

’Doesn’t this mean... one loaf of bread can keep those workers going for 15 hours straight?’

Shen Xing’s expression flickered as he realized the value of this bread.

’If I have enough of these, the workers in my territory will be able to work tirelessly. They’ll be like nuclear-powered workhorses.’

’Even the Beastmen will be able to fight, train, and absorb Soul Stones for longer periods, greatly increasing their efficiency.’

’Besides, even without the accelerated stamina recovery, this bread is still excellent.’

’One loaf of Moonlight Energy Bread is equivalent to 10 units of Food, which can keep a Beastman fed for an entire day.’

’Not bad. This solves my food problem for now.’

’With these few hundred kilograms of wheat, we can last for at least half a month or more.’

’This way, I’ll have surplus Food to continue mass-producing soldiers.’

Shen Xing was overcome with emotion.

’Farming is great. It all comes down to farming.’

’Once the first crop of Moonlight Wheat is planted and harvested in a few months, the territory won’t have to worry about Food anymore.’

’Maybe this bread could even become a source of income for the territory.’

’He was sure that both the Novice Lords and the City Lords would be very interested and willing to pay a high price for it.’

’Once the territory establishes a trade system in the future, this wheat could bring in a substantial profit.’

"Good work, Monday."

Shen Xing praised, then added, "Distribute this first batch of bread to the workers in a bit. Let them eat first."

Monday shuddered, asking in disbelief, "My... my Lord, are you serious?"

"This is bread made from precious Moonlight Wheat! In the city, only nobles and officials are worthy of eating it. We’re just a bunch of slaves..."

Shen Xing paused, then it dawned on him: these slaves had previously lived lives worse than dogs.

They ate food that was barely edible and just enough to fill their stomachs, did the dirtiest and most exhausting work, and couldn’t even dream of eating bread like this.

His expression turned solemn as he declared righteously, "What’s wrong with being a slave? Can’t slaves eat bread?"

"A great man once said that workers and farmers are the cornerstones of society. Only the people are the driving force that creates history."

"You grew this grain with your own two hands, so you are entitled to eat this Food."

Monday’s pupils dilated, as if he had been struck by a powerful revelation.

’Only the people... are the driving force that creates history...’

’Only the people...’

He muttered to himself, his eyes gradually clearing until they shone with the light of hope.

Monday took a deep breath and straightened his chest. "I understand, Lord!"

"I will lead the other workers to work hard. With our own hands, we will forge a brand new future!"

With that, he picked up a tray of freshly baked bread and hurried out of the Food Processing Plant.

Shen Xing was confused, wondering what exactly Monday had understood.

’Why is everyone, just like Hellish Roar, always having these sudden epiphanies about one thing or another?’

’Whatever. As long as they work hard, that’s all that matters.’

Shen Xing silently wheeled himself out of the Food Processing Plant.

He then returned to the center of his territory, positioning himself beside the Hero Altar.

He then took out a few Soul Stones to absorb them and increase his power, all while monitoring the two exploration teams on his minimap.

With their increased power, Hellish Roar and Reina were now able to explore farther out.

Right now, Hellish Roar was located due west of the territory, past the ruins of Sickness Village, about ten kilometers away.

The Beastman seemed to have discovered something, as he and his team were holding their position.

Ahead of them, the faint outline of an ancient building was visible.

Meanwhile, Reina seemed to have led the Black Moon Knight Order into the mountains. She was in a red area on the map, and it was unclear what she had encountered.

「As night fell.」

The thick gray fog gradually turned as black as ink. Even the raindrops drifting down from the sky turned black, spattering against the black earth.

The ground outside the territory grew even muddier.

Only the area within the firelight remained dry and clear.

Bearing the marks of battle, the two travel-worn teams hurried back to the territory out of the thick fog.

Both Reina and Hellish Roar bore fresh wounds.

"How did you get injured?"

Shen Xing asked the two before him from his wheelchair.

Hellish Roar was the first to respond. "Lord, we discovered a Divine Hall west of the territory. It’s been occupied by a group of fanatics in gray robes."

"There were many Tier Two experts among them."

"We engaged the fanatics and slew more than a dozen of them. We were just about to enter the Divine Hall..."

"But our battle seemed to have disturbed an even more powerful entity within."

"I was seventy percent certain I could defeat it, but I remembered your teachings and decided the risk was too great, so we temporarily withdrew."

Shen Xing was satisfied after hearing the report.

’Hellish Roar is a fast learner,’ Shen Xing thought. ’He knows how to assess a situation and proceed with caution.’

’That’s the only way to keep battle losses to a minimum and ensure the territory’s long-term survival.’

Just then, Hellish Roar added, "By the way, Lord, when we broke into the Divine Hall, we found a special altar inside."

"A special altar?" Shen Xing asked, puzzled. "What did it look like?"

"It was a statue of a goddess emitting a holy radiance. The Blood of the Inferior Demon in my veins felt a suppressive force coming from it," Hellish Roar replied truthfully.

’A goddess statue... holy radiance... and it suppresses the Inferior Demon bloodline?’

Putting all this information together, Shen Xing suddenly had a bold guess.

’Could it be... this is the Holy Altar Xia Wanyin told me about!?’