Chapter 247 : Phase One Complete! Motivating the Production Team!

Woniu ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Mountain.

Before ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Abyssal Fog Gate.

More ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍than four thousand members of the Calamity Army had assembled.

Every ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍one of them was full of energy and overflowing with fighting spirit.

“We're ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍finally starting!”

“Hahaha! ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I'm actually a little nervous!”

“I wonder what kind of surprises the Corpse Liches have prepared for us!”

“Who cares? The Calamity Army has never been afraid of anyone. This time we've got Strategist Jia providing plans and intelligence from behind the scenes. We can safely seal away our brains and just charge!”

“Well said!”

“Everyone on the forums is betting on whether we can conquer the Corpse Lich Territory within seven days.”

“I don't want to embarrass the Calamity Army!”

“Exactly. This isn't just about the rewards anymore. This concerns our collective honor, so we have to give it everything we've got!”

“Charge! Hurry up! What are we waiting for? My food buff won't last forever! A high-quality meal is so damn expensive! I'm broke as hell right now. If I don't earn Contribution Points soon, I'll have to start selling my ass!”

“……”

Thousands of players were boiling with excitement.

Even without the temptation of the generous three-phase mission rewards...

The spoils of war alone were enough to make everyone flock to the battlefield.

Even if there had been no rewards whatsoever...

Expanding the territory itself carried tremendous significance.

The larger the territory...

The more resources it possessed...

The richer the game became.

Even players who only enjoyed life skills or sightseeing certainly wouldn't complain about a larger world map or more scenic locations.

The size of the territory also influenced the number of closed beta slots that would be distributed.

Nothing aligned with everyone's interests more than seizing more land.

“Everyone, quiet down!”

Several legion commanders stepped forward to calm the excited crowd.

Ye Li Meng said,

“I know every one of you is just like me and wants nothing more than to smash the Corpse Lich Lord's skull as quickly as possible. But for now, calm down first!”

At this moment, Black-Eyed Rui Ge said,

“During this operation, nobody is allowed to act independently. Everyone must obey the orders of their respective legion or squad leaders. Pay close attention to the public chat for instructions—especially when it's time to make a glorious sacrifice. Don't hesitate!”

“The Corpse Liches are an extremely cunning bunch.”

“They already understand many of our Calamity Army's abilities.”

“Dying in battle isn't frightening—it's an honor!”

“Being captured alive is the real disgrace!”

Hua Mulan nodded.

“That's absolutely right. If you're captured inside the Corpse Lich Territory, you'll immediately be thrown into a dungeon. That's basically no different from having your account banned. You'll have to wait until after the war before you're released!”

These words...

Managed to cool the overheated minds of several thousand fanatical players.

This truly was the one thing players feared the most.

The Corpse Liches certainly weren't fools.

They had undoubtedly prepared all kinds of capture methods, along with numerous traps specifically designed for the Calamity Army.

One careless mistake...

And they could be captured alive.

That would be utterly humiliating.

Chimera Wraith said,

“There's no need to worry too much. As long as we're alert enough and react quickly enough, we just have to kill ourselves before they manage to capture us.”

Little Bell added,

“The Alchemy Workshop has recently released a special pill called the ‘Deathwish Pill.’”

“This pill temporarily boosts several attributes by a considerable amount, but before its effects expire—or once the user enters a weakened state—it instantly inflicts enough damage to kill the user.”

“Although its side effects are so severe that it's basically poison, if used properly, it can not only increase combat power, but also allow us to fulfill our glorious duty of dying honorably whenever we're restrained or unable to move.”

“Production is still limited, so for now it's only available to high-level players above Level 17!”

“……”

Clearly...

The Corpse Liches weren't the only ones making preparations.

The Calamity Army had also devised numerous countermeasures to avoid being captured alive.

These included prearranged suicide commands.

The moment a squad or team leader issued the designated order in public chat, every player would immediately take their own life without hesitation.

They had even prepared poison and similar methods.

The Calamity Army was beginning to resemble a true corps of deathsworn soldiers.

Several players with particularly sharp business instincts had already realized...

That in the future, anti-capture poisons and curse-type talismans would become highly sought-after commodities among the Calamity Army.

After the oath-taking ceremony concluded...

The Calamity Army crossed through the Abyssal Fog Gate.

“We're here!”

“This is the Xian Mountain region of the Corpse Lich Territory!”

“It was located in the southern part of Jiangxia Commandery during the Three Kingdoms era!”

“The historical timeline is sometime after the year 192!”

“And over fifty years have passed in the Abyssal timeline!”

It was everyone's first time setting foot on this unfamiliar land.

Every player felt both nervous and exhilarated.

The scenery here looked vastly different from every other region within the territory.

Unfortunately...

There was no time to appreciate it.

“According to the plan!”

“The first assault wave will split into multiple groups!”

“We'll simultaneously attack the three nearby strongholds!”

“This wave is mainly for probing the enemy!”

“We'll definitely die, but we can throw their formation into chaos!”

“The moment you're killed, revive in Sanxiang City!”

“Then teleport to Huangmei Hamlet, regroup, and begin the next offensive!”

“A lot of Cloud Players are watching us right now!”

“Several television stations are even broadcasting this live!”

“We aren't just fighting for ourselves!”

“We're fighting for our hometowns—and for countless fans!”

“Remember!”

“For the Calamity Army, death is honor—survival without honor is disgrace!”

“Move out!”

“Death is honor—survival without honor is disgrace!”

“Death is honor—survival without honor is disgrace!”

“Awooooo!”

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

The war had begun.

The Calamity Army surged forward like packs of rabid hounds unleashed from their cages.

Each of them howled wildly as they charged into the enemy ranks.

Like moths flying into flames...

They launched utterly fearless assaults.

————

【Player “Green-Eyed Fox” has died. Abyssal Essence Points +40,000...】

【Player “Warrior Like the Wind” has died. Abyssal Essence Points +23,000...】

【Player “Blind Swordsman” has died. Abyssal Essence Points +40,000...】

【Player “Street Slayer” has died. Abyssal Essence Points +46,000...】

【……】

“Excellent!”

“They're full of spirit!”

Hang Yu expressed his approval of the players' fighting spirit.

However...

Once the latest round of harvesting leeks had officially begun...

He no longer paid attention to the details.

The Calamity Army was currently carrying out the first phase of the mission.

Their objective was to seize a foothold for the territory in the Xian Mountain region.

Only after securing such a stronghold could the territory's expeditionary army obtain a sufficiently safe staging area inside the Corpse Lich Territory.

Which meant...

Until then...

The majority of the territory's three major guard forces would remain inactive.

Although the Calamity Army's strength had improved considerably...

Accomplishing this objective was still far from easy.

However...

At the critical moment, Zhou Cang and Wen Ping would intervene to assist them.

With Jia Xu secretly directing everything behind the scenes...

There was very little suspense regarding the final outcome.

The Corpse Liches would undoubtedly attempt to capture members of the Calamity Army alive.

But after previous painful experiences...

The players had become extremely cautious.

The slightest sign that something was going wrong...

And they would immediately choose a glorious death.

Combined with Jia Xu's support...

Most ambushes and traps became practically ineffective.

Capturing Calamity Army players alive had become extremely difficult.

Furthermore...

If the Corpse Liches focused too heavily on taking prisoners, they would hesitate during combat.

That hesitation would only increase their own casualties.

It simply wasn't worth it.

From the human faction's strategic perspective...

Capturing a low-level Blessing Point and establishing a frontline stronghold would create a forward position inside the Corpse Lich Territory.

That would lay the foundation for future offensives.

However...

From the Corpse Lich Territory's perspective...

Allowing humanity to occupy one or two distant villages could just as easily create a giant fire pocket...

Into which the human main army could be lured before being annihilated.

The true defensive focus of the Corpse Lich Territory lay within the four major cities of the Xian Mountain region.

There was no reason for them to exhaust themselves defending ordinary village Blessing Points with relatively weak defenses.

As long as none of the city-level territories fell...

The defense of Xian Mountain would remain rock solid.

Because of this...

Even if the operation encountered setbacks...

The Calamity Army would almost certainly capture the nearest territory within one or two days.

The moment they secured a frontline stronghold...

Zhou Cang and Wen Ping would immediately lead the troops stationed in Huangmei Hamlet into the Corpse Lich Territory.

Only then...

Would the real war truly begin.

Hang Yu wasn't in any hurry.

Nor was there any need to monitor everything constantly.

After all...

As the Lord, he could immediately sense any unusual developments.

Not to mention that Xiao Ba would notify him at any time.

Hang Yu instead began reviewing the territory's recent development.

Over this period...

Large quantities of Mana Crystals and materials had been consumed upgrading existing facilities and constructing many entirely new ones.

The territory's primary value-generating buildings currently included:

One Spirit Gathering Cultivation Tower.

One Tier-Three Enlightenment Tower.

Two Tier-Three Stables.

Four Tier-Three Skill Towers.

Nine Tier-Three Territory Canteens.

Nine Tier-Three Forging Workshops.

Nine Tier-Three Alchemy Workshops.

Twenty-four Small Spirit Fields.

Two Advanced Spirit Fields.

This was already an astonishing scale.

Naturally...

These weren't all of the territory's buildings.

In addition...

There were also eighty Abyss Barracks...

The Taiping Talisman Tower for studying Taiping talisman arts...

Defensive structures such as walls, Arrow Towers, Barrier Towers, Scout Towers, and Spell Towers...

As well as infrastructure including warehouses, post stations, dungeons, execution platforms, teleportation stations, and more.

If every Starsea building was counted...

The territory now possessed over two hundred structures in total.

These Starsea buildings and infrastructure formed the very foundation and backbone of the territory.

They were also the source of Hang Yu's confidence in governing the territory and creating wealth.

With these facilities in place...

The Contribution Points issued by the territory possessed genuine value.

Contribution Points were fundamentally a non-physical credit currency.

The value of any currency was never innate.

Only by being backed by scarce resources and scarce services could its value remain stable.

Based on these facilities alone...

Hang Yu still possessed enormous room to issue additional Contribution Points.

Not to mention the constant recycling of Contribution Points through various essential services, such as functional items, teleportation, resurrection, forging, alchemy, and food.

At present...

The total amount of Contribution Points circulating within the territory wasn't excessive.

If anything...

It was far too small.

It couldn't even satisfy the players' normal trading needs.

That was precisely why players continued keeping large quantities of Mana Crystals on hand as a source of liquidity.

Otherwise...

No one would care about those hard, ugly Mana Crystals that served virtually no purpose by themselves.

Hang Yu had become a Lord less than three months ago.

Yet he already possessed such a solid infrastructure...

Along with a sizeable military force and population.

Even across the entire Land of the Stars...

Such achievements were exceptionally rare.

Yet...

Hang Yu still wasn't satisfied.

The territory's potential remained far from fully developed.

Large numbers of abandoned lands throughout the Luoshui Region, White Tiger City, Woniu Mountain, Wan City, and elsewhere still awaited reconstruction.

If all of those territories could be rebuilt...

They would not only generate tremendous long-term financial income...

They would also unlock additional facilities such as Abyss Barracks, Skill Towers, workshops, and more.

Even the existing eighty Abyss Barracks could still be upgraded.

However...

Completing all of those construction projects...

Would require an unimaginable amount of Mana Crystals and resources.

At least for the current territory...

The required investment was an astronomical figure.

Ultimately...

The territory was still far too poor.

And that...

Was exactly why Hang Yu intended to conquer the Corpse Lich Territory as quickly as possible.

However, income from war was ultimately a one-time business.

Although the profits were enormous, they lacked sustainability.

The territory could not rely solely on plunder and conquest.

Its own development was equally important.

Hang Yu took out a blueprint.

【Healing Altar】, Tier-Three Rare Blueprint... Construction Cost: 100,000 Mana Crystals, 20,000 Tier-Three Material Essence!

He had purchased this rare blueprint from the Trading Market yesterday.

At the time, he had lacked sufficient Mana Crystals and resources, so he had postponed construction.

Now, however, the time was right.

Hang Yu constructed the altar beside the Execution Platform.

Buildings of the altar type belonged to the category of resource-consuming structures.

Although they generally provided excellent effects, they continuously consumed resources while active.

The amount of resources consumed was directly proportional to the area they affected.

A single Healing Altar could cover the entire Luoshui Main City.

It enhanced the recovery abilities of every resident within the main city while also helping Calamity Army players recover from fatigue.

Given the current size of the main city...

Its daily operating cost exceeded two thousand Mana Crystals.

That was by no means a small amount.

However, compared with the benefits it generated...

It was practically insignificant.

The increase in territorial productivity produced by the Healing Altar alone generated several times its operating cost every single day.

Next...

Hang Yu convened a staff meeting.

When Yan Ling, Bai Mu, Aji, Aba, and the others arrived in the conference hall...

Yan Ling glanced around.

The entire hall was filled with Starsea Producer Classes.

Her eyes immediately lit up.

She felt indescribable excitement and pride.

The territory's current Starsea employees...

Had reached a total of one hundred thirty-five.

They represented more than forty-nine different Starsea races.

These races, each stranger and more bizarre than the last...

Not only formed the territory's production backbone...

But also served as the players' window into the Land of the Stars, constantly fueling their curiosity about the hidden worldbuilding of the game.

At present...

The territory employed:

Forty-five chefs.

Forty-five alchemists.

Forty-five forgers.

Nearly half of these employees had been recruited only within the last few days.

Among them were:

Five Tier-Three Senior Chefs.

Eight Tier-Three Senior Alchemists.

Eight Tier-Three Senior Forgers.

As the territory's very first employee...

Yan Ling had personally witnessed this territory transform from absolutely nothing into its current state in less than three months.

To her...

It felt almost like a dream.

After all...

A production team of this scale...

Was considered rather uncommon even among Tier-Three Lords.

Simply supporting twenty-one senior Producer Classes placed considerable strain on a territory's finances.

Once every employee had arrived...

A human figure entered the conference hall.

Compared with the myriad races of the Stars...

His stature appeared rather short and unremarkable.

Yet...

The instant he appeared...

Everyone who had been chatting among themselves immediately fell silent.

Every face became filled with respect.

“Greetings, Lord!”

Yan Ling and the other Starsea employees all bowed respectfully toward the human Lord before them.

Among them were Starsea races possessing extremely high status and extraordinary talent.

Yet...

Before this human employer—who belonged to a lower race...

Every one of them displayed heartfelt respect, reverence...

And even a degree of flattering admiration.

Hang Yu nodded slightly.

He then took his seat at the head of the table.

“The main purpose of gathering everyone today is to formulate new production plans, allowing us to further improve the territory's production efficiency.”

“At the same time, the territory will place greater emphasis on cultivating our core employees in the future and further increase employee benefits.”

What?

The moment those words were spoken...

Every Starsea employee present became excited.

Because...

In their opinion...

The territory's benefits were already unbelievably generous!

Take Yan Ling for example.

She had graduated from the Forging Academy as nothing more than a Tier-One Junior Forger.

Simply because she had joined the territory early...

Less than three months later...

She had already become a Tier-Three Senior Forger.

For the overwhelming majority of Lords...

Production units were merely ordinary employees.

They did not share the fate of the territory.

Whenever danger threatened...

They could immediately return to the Land of the Stars for refuge.

Once their contracts expired...

They could freely change employers at any time.

Unlike Hero Units...

They neither shared life nor death with the territory.

Because of this...

Very few Lords were willing to invest precious Abyssal Essence Points into cultivating Producer Classes.

Especially those from the middle and lower ranks...

Whose reputations, status, and bargaining power were relatively weak.

Even the greatest top-tier Lords were no exception.

However...

Lord Hang Yu was different.

His generosity was enough to move people to tears.

Even more astonishing...

His capabilities could only be described as miraculous.

Within his territory...

The Lord had created an entirely new Contribution Point system.

Employees could earn Contribution Points through their work...

Then exchange those Contribution Points directly for Abyssal Essence Points at a one-to-one ratio.

As long as they worked diligently...

Their growth speed became astonishing.

It could be said...

Once they had experienced its benefits...

These Producer Classes would willingly work for the territory even without pay.

Hang Yu announced directly,

“Beginning today, the benefit allowing Mana Crystals to be exchanged for Contribution Points will become a permanent policy.”

“Every employee will receive a fixed exchange quota based on their level and cumulative contributions.”

“Each completed production task for the territory will also grant additional exchange quotas.”

“As long as your workshop meets its performance targets, you may exchange at any time.”

The entire hall erupted into an uproar.

Exchanging Abyssal Mana Crystals for territory Contribution Points had always existed as an employee benefit.

However...

It had previously been restricted by time, quota, and eligibility.

Only a handful of veteran employees had ever enjoyed it.

Now...

Lord Hang Yu had transformed it into a permanent everyday benefit.

As long as they worked hard...

They could exchange Mana Crystals whenever they wished!

This immediately created a huge new source of Contribution Points.

Furthermore...

Exchanging Contribution Points for Essence would no longer be subject to quotas!

Which meant...

Working for the territory could now earn them even more Essence!

Hang Yu had optimized employee benefits for two primary reasons.

First...

To increase revenue while reducing unnecessary expenditure.

Although employee salaries weren't particularly high...

The cumulative payroll was still a significant expense.

This adjustment allowed employees to effectively return part of their salaries while simultaneously encouraging them to spend more Mana Crystals working for the territory.

Previously...

The territory's Essence income had been relatively limited.

That was why Hang Yu had imposed time and quota restrictions on Mana Crystal exchanges.

Now...

The scale of Essence income had become enormous.

Whenever the Calamity Army fought a major battle...

It routinely generated tens of millions—or even hundreds of millions—of Essence Points.

Supporting a production workforce with such income placed virtually no burden on the territory.

The territory now employed one hundred thirty-five Starsea workers.

Suppose each person spent an average of ten thousand Mana Crystals per month on paid work.

That was actually a conservative estimate.

After all...

Quite a few of these employees possessed impressive backgrounds.

High-tier Producer Classes could easily earn huge amounts of Mana Crystals simply by returning to the Land of the Stars and taking on side jobs.

That alone amounted to an income of 1.35 million Mana Crystals.

Converted into Essence...

That was merely 135 million Abyssal Essence Points.

Not to mention an entire month...

A single major battle could earn that amount back in half a day—or even less.

Besides...

Not every Contribution Point would ultimately be exchanged into Essence.

Although these Starsea Producer Classes were not official citizens of the territory...

They could still spend money within it.

They could purchase residences...

Acquire shops...

Or even use Contribution Points to issue missions for players.

Secondly...

This policy would further strengthen employee cultivation.

This production team had been personally trained by the territory from the very beginning.

Not only would they become increasingly suited to the territory's needs...

They would also become increasingly loyal to their Lord.

Hang Yu could confidently allow them to learn even more advanced production techniques.

“Thank you, Lord!”

“We'll definitely work even harder!”

“To repay Your Lordship's generosity!”

“To contribute even more to this great territory!”

“……”

Every employee was overflowing with gratitude.

To them...

These benefits were simply incredible.

Hang Yu nodded with satisfaction.

Through his continuous investment and effort...

The territory's production capacity had grown stronger and stronger.

Its development speed was becoming increasingly remarkable.

For example...

He had continuously acquired additional farmland over a long period.

The territory currently possessed twenty-four Small Spirit Fields...

Along with two Advanced Spirit Fields.

These alone supplied enormous quantities of raw materials.

As for products...

Take alchemy as an example.

The territory could now mass-produce:

Four types of attribute-enhancing medicines.

Five types of special-effect medicines.

More than twenty kinds of conventional recovery medicines.

Along with numerous support-type pharmaceuticals.

And yet...

This was still far from the territory's true limit.

As its ability to obtain materials continued improving...

The variety of medicines its alchemists could produce would only continue expanding.

Moreover...

With a legendary figure like Zhang Zhongjing present...

The territory would eventually master countless rare formulas...

Including permanent attribute medicines.

Thanks to Hang Yu's relentless efforts during this period...

The territory's raw material production...

The size of its production workforce...

And even its import and export markets...

Had all experienced tremendous growth.

It would not be long...

Before pharmaceutical production increased by an entire order of magnitude.

That would become a tremendous source of income for the territory.

Most importantly...

It would be sustainable...

And continuously scalable.

Furthermore...

The vast array of medicines produced by the Alchemy Workshops could be distributed through every shop within the territory...

Further stimulating economic activity while strengthening the territory as a whole.

Alchemy represented only one portion of the overall industry.

In the future...

The industries branching out from forging and cooking would be equally impressive.

Not long after Hang Yu finished assigning new missions and welfare policies to the production team...

He suddenly sensed something.

His area of perception expanded noticeably.

At the same time...

Xiao Ba reported,

“Master, the Calamity Army has successfully captured the Blessing Point at Tianshan Hamlet in the Xian Mountain region.”

Just as expected!

The Calamity Army had succeeded!

Even Hang Yu found the result somewhat surprising.

Originally...

He had expected them to require at least one full day...

Perhaps even two...

To complete the first phase of the mission.

Yet after calculating the time...

Not even twenty hours had passed.

The first phase had already been completed successfully.

It was significantly faster than he had anticipated.

It seemed their overall strength had indeed improved considerably.

Hang Yu immediately activated the Lord's Vision and turned his attention toward the Corpse Lich Territory.

He saw Calamity Army players celebrating inside the newly conquered stronghold.

At the very same time...

Wen Ping had also received the news.

The territory's main army officially marched into the Corpse Lich Territory!