The morning sun cast long shadows across Spiritrock Village as Yun Kai stood on the newly reinforced eastern wall, surveying the dramatic changes that had transformed his settlement overnight.The upgrade to large village status had done more than simply expand boundaries or unlock new buildings. The God-Tier village token's special effects had fundamentally reshaped the terrain itself, molding the landscape to better serve the village's defensive and economic needs."Remarkable," Elder Jiang breathed beside him. "I've lived seventy years and never seen anything like this."Yun Kai had to agree. The transformation was extraordinary.Where previously the village had occupied a relatively flat valley floor with modest natural defenses, it now sat within what resembled a massive gourd-shaped formation.The valley entrance had narrowed to a defensible chokepoint — only about fifty yards wide, while the interior had expanded dramatically, providing ample space for future growth."It's like

Although Yun Kai hadn't brought Léi Shén on this trip, Jiang Hao was more than adequate protection for a simple business visit. The old butler had proven himself repeatedly in recent weeks, growing stronger under Léi Shén's guidance.Without a historical general present, Jiang Hao might not be invincible, but he could handle most threats. His force value had climbed to nearly seventy through dedicated training and combat experience. That put him well above average fighters and into the realm of genuinely dangerous combatants.They stood before the ornate gates of the Qiao family compound, waiting as the guards scrutinized them with barely concealed disdain."I'm Yun Kai from Spiritrock Village," Yun Kai said politely. "I'd like an audience with Master Qiao to discuss a business proposition."The two guards exchanged glances. One snorted softly. A village chief — not even from a major settlement, wanting to meet with Master Qiao? The magistrate himself sometimes waited days for an appo

The woman who entered the hall carried herself with natural grace that drew every eye.She wore a blue embroidered dress, simple but elegant, with white clogs that made soft sounds on the polished floor. No makeup adorned her face, yet she possessed a pure, refined attractiveness that needed no enhancement.The Qiao family had only two daughters, both famous throughout the region for their beauty. Since Yun Kai had already glimpsed Little Qiao watching from behind screens, this elegant young woman could only be her older sister.Big Qiao was sixteen now — of marriageable age by this era's standards. That meant she should have been secluded in the inner household, rarely appearing even before family guests. Her presence here was unusual, possibly improper by strict social conventions.But she stood her ground confidently, meeting her father's gaze without flinching.Master Qiao's face had darkened considerably. "Yunyi! What are you doing here? A young lady of proper family doesn't appe

"Dismissed. Both of you." Master Qiao's voice was cold as winter ice. "Consider yourselves fortunate I'm not having you beaten for corruption."The two guards stumbled out of the compound, their protests falling on deaf ears. Master Qiao watched them go with disgust. How had he been so blind to their dishonesty?He turned to head back inside when a maid burst from the inner household, her face pale with panic."Master! Master Qiao! Something terrible!""What is it?" Alarm shot through him. "Speak clearly!""The eldest young lady — Miss Yunyi — she's gone! Her room is empty!"Master Qiao felt his heart stop. "Gone? What do you mean gone?""She's not in her chambers, not in the gardens, not anywhere in the compound!" The maid wrung her hands. "And... and she took clothing. Two sets of servants' clothes. Men's clothes, master."The world seemed to tilt. Master Qiao grabbed the nearest pillar for support. "Men's clothes? Why would she—"Understanding crashed over him like cold water. That

Yun Kai watched Big Qiao depart with Master Qiao's escort, her backward glances carrying meaning he chose not to examine too closely.The girl was clever, passionate about ideas most women her age never considered. If she spoke favorably about Spiritrock Village to her father, it could change everything.That was the goal, after all. Get Master Qiao to visit personally. Once the old scholar saw what they'd built, his resistance would crumble. A man of his reputation joining Spiritrock Village would elevate their cultural standing dramatically.Cultural ranking. Most players didn't even know it existed yet, but Yun Kai had gotten a bit of info on future rankings. When the territory rankings opened in a few months, three separate lists would appear: military strength, economic power, and cultural development.Territories that topped any single list received substantial system rewards. However, according to the system, it'll be almost impossible for someone to rank first on all three sim