The pre-dawn light cast long shadows across Yin Zhi's small room as he scrolled through the Regional Chat—a chaotic stream of text and emojis flickering across his screen like fireflies on a summer night.
After 30 minutes of sifting through the digital noise, two summoners from his squad returned from their scouting mission, their faces etched with the weariness of a long morning's work.
"My Lord," one reported, his voice rough with fatigue, "we scouted the surroundings. In 30 minutes, we covered a 30-kilometer radius. 17 kilometers south, we found a river. 27 kilometers in the west lies a forest teeming with Rank 1 and Rank 2 beasts. East and north, endless plains stretch out, dotted with a few herds of animals grazing near the river."
Yin Zhi leaned forward, his gaze intense, his expression unreadable. He steepled his fingers; the faint light caught the glint of a signet ring on his left hand. "Any Rank 3 or higher in the forest?" he asked, his voice low and steady.
"We only dared to scout the outer regions," the other summoner replied, his voice strained.
His shoulders slumped slightly; the weight of their arduous task was evident in his posture. "Rank 2 beasts could easily spot our summoned beasts. We were pushing our luck as it was."
Yin Zhi nodded, understanding their limitations. As Rank 2 summoners, they could only summon creatures 1 rank lower, and their summoning capacity was limited to ten Rank 1 beasts at any one time.
"What types of animals did you see on the plains?" he asked. This was crucial information as he began planning the development of his settlement.
"Herds of cattle and horses, mostly," the first summoner answered, his voice hoarse. He rubbed his eyes.
Yin Zhi's eyes lit up. "How strong are they?"
"Mostly Rank 0, with a few Rank 1 leaders," the second summoner replied.
Yin Zhi hesitated, then asked, "Can you capture them?" The question hung in the air, creating a slight tension.
He instantly regretted the phrasing; it sounded like he doubted their abilities.
The summoners exchanged a look. A subtle stiffening of their shoulders betrayed their pride. "Of course, my Lord," one replied, his tone sharper than before. The other nodded curtly.
Yin Zhi recognized his misstep. "Go on, then," he said, his voice firm but gentler. "I believe this will be no trouble. I need resources to build this village. Have five of you capture those animals. The other five will gather basic resources—wood and stone. Bring back as much as you can carry."
The summoners, though slightly miffed, nodded. "Yes, my Lord." We'll bring them all back."
As they departed, Yin Zhi returned to his wooden shack. The rough texture of the rock bed was a stark contrast to the smooth surfaces of his summoning stones. He closed his eyes; a mixture of hope and apprehension filled him.
This territory, this village—its success, depended entirely on them. He drifted off to a restless sleep, the wind whispering through the grass outside a constant, low hum against the silence of the plains.
Six hours later, the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the plains. Yin Zhi awoke to laughter and the clanging of cooking pots.
Emerging from his shack, he found his summoners gathered around a crackling fire, preparing a meal.
Their faces showed exhaustion and satisfaction; their bodies were relaxed, but their eyes held the sharp focus of seasoned scouts.
Seeing him, they rose. "My Lord!" they greeted, inviting him to eat.
Yin Zhi sat; the fire's warmth radiated against his skin. "How was your harvest?" he asked, taking a bite of the surprisingly tender, richly flavored meat.
Lin Yuan, their leader, answered, "We captured 30 horses, 72 cattle, 18 wild boars, and 24 bison. Using our summoned creatures, we also gathered 120 pieces of wood and 80 stones. It wasn't easy, but we managed."
"Where are the animals? And the resources?" Yin Zhi inquired.
"The animals are in a makeshift pen south of the territory, My Lord. The resources are stacked behind the shack," Lin Yuan replied.
Yin Zhi nodded, eating. After 15 minutes, he finished and checked the resources. The numbers were accurate.
He transferred them to his territory inventory—a special storage space, inaccessible outside his territory.
He activated his Hundred Touch ability, amplifying the resources. The inventory now held 12,000 pieces of wood and 8,000 stones. Enough to build a small village.
Being given a starter pack of blueprints for essential buildings—blacksmiths, farms, stables, ranches, small houses, and more—had been added to their inventories.
This significant boost provided the detailed plans needed to construct the village efficiently.
Before planning his village's layout, Yin Zhi checked the captured animals. Walking south, the sounds of snorts and bellows grew louder.
The animals were in a large enclosure, guarded by lions, tigers, and bears, keeping them safely contained.
The beasts' sheer size was impressive, a testament to the summoners' skill and power.
After counting them, Yin Zhi nodded, sketching out a plan. He chose a square formation with a central core.
The village hall, village center, and large markets would be in the central core, surrounded by other important buildings.
The four sides of the square would be separated by the main road, with markets and stores lining the edges.
Inside the squares would be residential buildings, blacksmiths, and essential workshops.
The road would be a grid, allowing expansion without disruption. This design ensured efficient movement of goods and people and allowed for easy expansion.
Outside the village, east and southeast, he envisioned farms, stables, and barns. The west side, with its dangerous forest, would be approached cautiously.
He'd rely on his summoners and their summoned creatures to gather resources from that area, minimizing risk.
A more sustainable strategy would be developed later, but for now, this was the safest approach.
His ambition fueled him; this wasn't just about shelter; it was about power, influence, and creating a legacy.
"In any case," he mused, a confident smirk playing on his lips, "I have Hundred Touch. No matter how little is gathered, it will be amplified to hundreds. This village will thrive." He looked west, toward the dark forest, determination in his eyes.
The challenges were many, but he was ready, one step at a time. He had a village to build, an ambition to fulfill, and a future to forge. And he would start with his summoners.