Bai Yi gazed thoughtfully into the distance. The pilot films from the Sun Federation and the Star Federation shared similarities, with the Kingdom of Ancient Gods serving as the backbone of the narratives for the next three federations. This storyline would dominate for decades, as the ancient god would always choose a new favored one, even if the current one perished.
As magical energy continued to surge in Xia, the strength of these divine favorites would rise in tandem. Observing those blessed by the gods offered a glimpse into the ancient gods' influence over Xia.
Bai Yi shifted the focus of the Dawn's pilot film to the moment the evil god escaped, restoring the perspective of the battlefield. Raising his hand, he gathered a massive amount of magical energy, gradually replicating the chaotic scenes around him, encircling them within the present view.
[Search for the exact location here.]
Zero: [Later.]
Zero: [Nanling City, 100 kilometers south of the city gate, in the wild forest wetland.]
Ling: [The ground here is perpetually wet and shrouded in poisonous miasma, marking it a restricted area. However, Nanling City has the necessary medicines to neutralize the toxins.]
Bai Yi contemplated the distance to Nanling City, realizing that Dongwu City would soon find itself embroiled in conflict. Yet, an early departure could mitigate risks.
He attempted to zoom in on the eastern part of the four major war zones, but all he saw was a sea of crimson.
A thought crossed his mind: the Scarlet Lord.
The Scarlet Lord was known to be one of the more formidable ancient gods, evident from the presence of the Scarlet Sect. While other ancient gods struggled to manifest their power, the Scarlet Lord had already established a following. Furthermore, the favored ones of the Scarlet Lord wielded peculiar abilities, appearing in multiple forms—comparable to the likes of Charles.
Thinking of Charles, Bai Yi felt a familiar headache. That old rogue required undivided attention; any moment of complacency could lead to disaster. He recalled Charles mentioning a visit to Dongwu City, and the ensuing trouble was already looming in his mind.
To clear his thoughts, Bai Yi chewed on a soul crystal, its essence sharpening his focus.
He recognized the necessity of traveling to Nanling City, but not just yet. Dongwu City needed reinforcements first. With ample funds at his disposal, Bai Yi planned to bolster the city's defenses. Once a virtuous cycle was established, resources would flow without hindrance.
Checking his status panel, Bai Yi noted he had accumulated 2.5 million experience points—enough for a single level-up, yet subsequent advancements would prove increasingly challenging.
As he added the points, he felt a slight surge in his magical energy and spirit. He had 35 free attribute points remaining, all of which he allocated to spirit. Strengthening his spirit and soul was essential for the dark side to continue evolving. Currently, his spirit was a staggering 730, causing the air around him to ripple with power, hinting that he could manipulate space itself.
Bai Yi configured the panel to separate the light and dark side data, preparing for a future where the dark side would have its own specialized panel.
[Host: White Plague. (Light)]
Race: Human
Template: Alchemist
Occupation: Alchemist
Level: 52 (1,256,400/1,800,000)
Experience: 0
Gold Coins: 2,059,011
Personal Attributes: Strength 89, Agility 76, Endurance 93, Intelligence 440, Spirit 730, Charm 9, Luck 1
Free Attribute Points: 0
Legend Degree: 89 (Youngest Border City Lord)
Rank: Lower Gold
Title: Future Star: ★★★★★★, Hunter: ★★★★★, God Hunter: ★★★★★★★
Skills: Intermediate Alchemy, Master Alchemy Technology, Advanced Alchemy Transformation, Mental (expand)
Skill Points: 38
Personal Expertise: Highly focused, profiteer, fast manufacturing
Boss Template Specialties: Alchemist Demon, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Defense, Soul Gourmet, Light and Dark (only), Magic Fountain, Demon Soul Blood
Boss Growth: Select a specialty every ten levels. Current selectable specialties: 0
Evaluation: You have hunted gods before. Your strength remains shocking.
Bai Yi was pleased with his progress. His mental power could potentially grant him access to impressive mental-related skills. However, he prioritized groundwork first: arming Dongwu City was imperative. Once the dark side was fully transformed, he could afford to delve into study and self-improvement.
[Connect with Saab.]
Zero: [Connecting… Connected.]
"My friend, how can I assist you?"
"From now on, the capital won't intervene unless there's evidence."
"Really? That's excellent news," Sabo replied, a hint of surprise in his voice. He had been contemplating his next venture into the abyss.
Bai Yi continued, "However, Dongwu City has substantial liquid assets. You must find a way to establish a solid foundation. Look into the military, as well as the school and clinic you mentioned."
"My appointment will be announced at dawn. A new era has arrived. Don't worry about the quartermaster; you can replace him if he's inconvenient. Just know that we're on the brink of war."
Bai Yi's tone turned serious. "And this war will be ongoing."
Sabo's excitement waned as he asked, "War?"
"Yes. During my recent trip with the old city lord, we witnessed the rise of numerous nations. The favored ones of the ancient gods are stepping into Xia and will not permit order to regain control."
Fidgeting with the ring on his finger, Bai Yi added, "I need elite troops."
Sabo fell silent for a moment. "I understand. However, the elite you mentioned aren't suited for the formal army. The laws of Dongwu City also need to be revised. The penalties for crime must be harsher. For instance, imprisonment should equate to forced labor, while mining offenses could warrant the death penalty. I need more death penalties."
Bai Yi hesitated. Criminals have families too. While it was justified to punish the truly wicked, tightening laws could backfire. Most offenders were extraordinary individuals; using them as biological weapons could tarnish Dongwu City's reputation.
"Sabo, have you considered that Tobu Castle could be ours?"
"The laws of Dongwu City cannot be altered, but I have thoughts on the transformation you mentioned. As for biological weapons, we can exploit enemies in war. Those corrupted by the ancient gods won't enjoy human rights."
Bai Yi proposed, "Let's recruit from the public. I need a team of alchemists, adhering to the highest federal standards. We have the funds, so we should develop welfare programs to make military enlistment appealing."
"We can allocate military resources to schools to motivate students," Sabo suggested.
"Additionally, let it be known that one-tenth of the soldiers can form an elite team, with access to the best weapons and resources in the legion. We'll establish a new legion of 30,000, exclusively recruiting from the armed forces. Anyone feeling their potential has plateaued can interview for this elite branch."
"I also propose a last-place elimination mechanism every six months, where the bottom 1,000 in age, merit, level, and potential will face a civilian competition. The winners stay in their respective legions, while the rest step down. We only want the best."
Bai Yi concluded, "Finally, we'll implement surveillance. Where there's competition, there's potential for corruption. We must minimize that risk."
Turning to Sabo, he asked, "Do you have anything else to add?"
"You're a genius, my friend," Sabo grinned. "Will there be an admission fee for the tournament?"
Bai Yi instructed, "Focus on these arrangements first. You'll manage the finances to ensure that even if war breaks out, our income matches our expenditures." He hung up, deep in thought.
Dongwu City needed two specialized legions: the Reform Legion and the Special Legion. As Sabo pointed out, transformation was a swift route to combat power. Transforming the wicked was harsh but resource-light.
Health transformations, however, were expensive. A bronze-level warrior transformed by White Plague would wield silver-level power. The cost of such transformations could reach thousands of gold coins, a hefty investment for an intercontinental missile equivalent.
Yet, people offered value beyond mere machinery. Once war commenced, high-end forces would inevitably target one another, but the low-end battlefield remained crucial. Losing Dongwu City would result in significant losses.
With adequate financial resources and Bai Yi's influence, 10,000 mechanical warriors and 20,000 flesh-and-blood warriors represented a feasible limit. Bai Yi envisioned a legion whose welfare standards rivaled those of the federation's elite forces, attracting citizens and adventurers alike.
The salaries for these troops, the exchange of military merits, and maintaining various facilities would be costly, but they would elevate Dongwu City to a military powerhouse within the federation.
Bai Yi's goal was clear: to transform the ace troops into gold-hunting machines.
[Connected: Three legion commanders, quartermaster, law enforcement captain, and chief judge.]
Zero: [Connecting… Connected.]
Bai Yi addressed them firmly. "I am now the city lord. The financial officer will issue orders in the coming days, and you must cooperate. All city matters need quarterly reports with detailed data, adhering to the laws and military regulations of Dongwu City. Frequent reporting at other times is unnecessary."
After receiving confirmations, Bai Yi severed the communication and inquired, [How is the analysis of the God War progressing?]
Zero: [The high-level battle has been analyzed. In future battles of this magnitude, Zero will activate auxiliary combat mode and manage control of the tiny machines.]
Stepping out of the laboratory, Bai Yi entered the workshop. After collecting the month's solar energy, he gathered various materials that Or had been polishing. The micro-machines suffered wear in every battle, yet Or had adapted, working tirelessly without fatigue.
Returning to the lab, Bai Yi began replenishing the micro-machines. Their combat effectiveness was vital, and the rest would require time to develop.
News of Bai Yi's ascension as the lord of Dongwu City spread rapidly across the internet. Meanwhile, Sabo organized Bai Yi's directives, elevating the legion's welfare benefits to match those of the capital's law enforcement.
The lower bronze rank remained capped at 200, justified by Sabo as a lack of ambition among that group. However, median military salaries doubled to 1,000 gold coins per month, while upper-tier salaries reached 2,000 gold coins—comparable to 90% of the silver-level warriors in the Dawn Federation.
For bronze-level members, this wealth could afford them knowledge and materials, even allowing for regular visits to the Red Mansion. Silver-level salaries were even more staggering: 4,000 for lower levels, 8,000 for mid-level, and 30,000 for upper levels—enough to purchase gold-level knowledge and equipment.
With time, one could save enough to access the black market, where rare resources like soul crystal cores awaited the fortunate few.
Gold-level individuals demanded high-end resources, and many city lords of minor cities struggled to attain that status, explaining why smaller cities lacked influence.
The battlefield merit system allowed exchanges for exclusive resources, alongside additional subsidies for mages and alchemists.
The newly established legion, dubbed "Whisper," would consist of 30,000 specially transformed soldiers, all crafted by Bai Yi himself—a formidable force for Dongwu City.
As this information circulated, a wave of migration began, with citizens from various cities flocking to Dongwu City. Accusations against Sabo quickly faded, replaced by excitement over the potential for newfound opportunities.
In response, online users formed support groups for Sabo, urging him to expand military quotas and relax restrictions.
With a population of 800 million across the federation, at least 100 million extraordinary individuals existed, making the 180,000 available spots seem minuscule.
All eyes turned toward legion commanders, who then shifted focus to the treasurer, who, amid frustration, sought out Bai Yi, cursing and complaining about the pressure from both the city lord and legion commanders.
The tension between Sabo and the treasurer escalated, reflecting the transformative wave sweeping through Dongwu City.