Strongest Lord by Opening Blind Boxes

Chapter 240: Chapter 208: Manzi Camp

Wang Yi and Man Datou went to the Octagonal Cage’s arena together. He brought 200,000 Gold Coins for Nangong Jin and, while he was there, replenished the Octagonal Cage with a large amount of Chaos Energy.

As for the little train, it was left in Pang Damao’s hands to continue operating.

The Octagonal Cage was bustling with activity, its stands filled with spectators. Many of the newly arrived members of the Zhao Family, like Zhao Dashan, had even come over to watch the combat tournaments.

And these spectators were the main customers for ”small snacks.”

These so-called small snacks included items like Crispy Fried Small Fish and spicy crab sticks, all available for purchase at the First Dining Hall.

Nangong Jin was incredibly busy these days. The combat tournaments ran almost nonstop, day and night.

In fact, Nangong Jin still hadn’t spent the initial 180,000 Gold Coins Wang Yi had given him. With the subsequent 120,000 dropped by Luan Bu’s group, plus the current 200,000, Wang Yi was starting to feel a bit sorry for him.

’Recruiting from the Octagonal Cage is still too slow. One soldier per tournament... even if Nangong Jin can recruit at four times the normal rate, how many can he really get in a single day?’

Wang Yi couldn’t help but think of Ye Qitian. That guy possessed the [Unlimited Bursting Soldiers] Talent. He could just go AFK, spend no money, and recruit hundreds of thousands of soldiers a day. ’Now that’s the life.’

After a brief chat with Nangong Jin, Wang Yi went to Liuhe Farm. He used five Spirit Field Certificates there, increasing the area of fertile land to 300 mu. To make room, he even had to relocate a section of the Peach Blossom Forest.

Wang Yi wasn’t particularly concerned with ordinary fertile fields. What he cared about were the Spirit Fields and the cultivation of Spirit Rice.

However, this high-grade crop matured very slowly. He wouldn’t see any ripe Spirit Rice for at least two or three months, so Wang Yi left Guangkun and his team to manage it.

It was worth noting that since the establishment of the Hundred Skills Academy, the people from Liuhe Farm had been the most eager to enroll. Guangkun and his team were now professional farmers with vastly improved agricultural skills. They supplied the First Dining Hall with a large quantity of wild vegetables daily and had also started harvesting other crops they planted, such as cucumbers.

Next to Liuhe Farm, near the Peach Blossom River, Wang Yi constructed the windmill-waterwheel.

To his surprise, the structure was quite beautiful. On the riverbank, surrounded by blossoms, the massive windmill turned slowly while the waterwheel below churned, lifting water from the river with a great SPLASH.

Wang Yi thought that if this were on Earth Star, this scenery alone—with such a unique, retro-style windmill—would undoubtedly become a viral ”check-in” spot, a Holy Land for social media influencers.

Next, Wang Yi made his way to Eggshell Castle to check on the territory’s food supply and the production of Fasting Pills.

Eggshell Village’s food supply currently came mainly from provisions from the World of Suffering. The Fire Dragon Trading Team also made irregular deliveries of meat, vegetables, and other goods. Meanwhile, the Alchemy of Fasting Pills had never ceased, and a large stockpile had now been accumulated.

The raw materials for the Alchemy of Fasting Pills had gradually shifted from grain to Peaches of Immortality.

The Huaguo Mountain ecosystem produced a never-ending supply of fresh peaches. Since they couldn’t all be eaten, they were used for Alchemy.

To this end, Eggshell Castle even issued a formal peach-picking policy. The Production Team formed a dedicated ”peach-picking squad” that was kept busy every day.

Fortunately, the Huaguo Mountain ecosystem was peculiar; unpicked peaches remained perfectly fresh and never rotted.

Wang Yi also learned that of all the fresh peaches on Huaguo Mountain, the ones from the Four Seasons Peach Tree were the most delicious and beautiful. Some of these Peaches of Immortality could even grow as large as a soccer ball, and they were juicy and fragrant.

Only the Peaches of Immortality from the Four Seasons Peach Tree were protected. Ordinary villagers were forbidden from picking them, as they were reserved for banquets. Any that were harvested were stored in the Chaos Warehouse, as they were too precious to be used for Alchemy.

The Flower Fruit Trees also produced fresh peaches, but no one dared to eat them anymore. This was because they would hatch into Flower and Fruit Spirits—Peach Blossom Fairies and Little Spirit Monkeys. Besides, the fruit wasn’t very tasty.

Wang Yi left 200,000 Gold Coins for Jelena in Eggshell Castle. After exiting, he walked up to the Four Seasons Peach Tree out front and looked up. It was just as Jelena had described: the fruit on the tree was enormous and plentiful, exuding an enticing fragrance.

He recalled that the Four Seasons Peach Tree’s original description stated it would bear fruit four times a year, yielding 3,000 peaches weighing about a pound each. Clearly, that no longer applied. The peaches now ripened continuously, and their average weight was obviously far greater than a pound.

Wang Yi had Yuan Yao and Liu Qin pick a few volleyball-sized peaches from the Four Seasons Peach Tree. After a quick rinse, he had the two women try them.

He took a bite of one himself. The peach was incredibly sweet and delicious. Unfortunately, because he had taken a Fasting Pill, he felt full before he could even finish it.

’Good peaches, truly good peaches. The Huaguo Mountain ecosystem is definitely affecting this tree. I wonder if they’ll be affected again and become even better after the ecosystem’s next Evolution... It would be amazing if they became true Immortal Peaches!’

As Wang Yi mused to himself, he took out the [Construction Drawings for the Four Seasons Yellow Apricot Tree] and quickly planted it.

Influenced by the Huaguo Mountain ecosystem, the Four Seasons Yellow Apricot Tree swiftly blossomed and bore fruit. It, too, was a delightful sight, with half the tree covered in blossoms and the other half in yellow apricots. He estimated the apricots would be ripe enough to eat in two or three days.

”Come on. Let’s go check out the First Dining Hall and the Elite Armory. Oh, right, I also need to assess the talents from the Zhao Family, especially that Zhao Wukang who’s said to have the makings of a Military God. I wonder where he is. I need to get him assigned to a military or administrative department as soon as possible...”

Wang Yi gestured for Yuan Yao and Liu Qin to follow him.

At that very moment, the Giant Scorpion Camp to the east of Eggshell Castle flashed with light. It had automatically upgraded.

The upgrade was swift, finishing in just a few breaths. Its training grounds expanded, and many new buildings appeared. Though still classified as a small barracks, its recruitment and garrison capacity had both increased to 2,000 people.

Compared to the Giant Crab Camp, which was closer to the Octagonal Cage, the Giant Scorpion Camp was relatively quiet. It served as the temporary headquarters for the Eastern Depot, and the soldiers garrisoned here were all Assassins: Heaven and Earth Defects, Fire Fire Evil God, Kung Fu’s Number One Killing King, and their leader, Hai Zhongxian.

However, while not many were garrisoned here, quite a few people had ”enlisted” at the Giant Scorpion Camp, including Nangong Jin and Man Datou. In fact, the main reason the camp had automatically upgraded was due to Nangong Jin’s contributions.

Nangong Jin’s military rank had been promoted again; he was now a Two-star War General.

His advancement benefited the Giant Scorpion Camp, which was why it was the first to upgrade, despite its low garrison count.

At that moment, Zhao Wukang was inside the Giant Scorpion Camp.

He had just enlisted, receiving the status of ”One-star Soldier.”

Li Huaizheng was the one who had brought him here.

Li Huaizheng was the current head of the Hundred Skills Academy, but his duties weren’t overly demanding. As one of Jelena’s most trusted confidants, he had been assigned by her to look after Zhao Wukang personally.

In fact, Li Huaizheng had also enlisted at the Giant Scorpion Camp and held the rank of ”One-star Soldier” himself.

”This barracks is nothing like I imagined... Those men playing the zithers...”

Zhao Wukang was currently chatting with Li Huaizheng.

”Ah, those are the Heaven and Earth Defects, famous on the assassin leaderboards. They work as a pair. Don’t be fooled by their appearance; they may look like wandering Jianghu musicians, but their Martial Arts are extraordinary. They can turn sound waves into hidden weapons. They’re extremely dangerous...”

”Incredible!” Zhao Wukang didn’t dwell on what an assassin leaderboard was. He then looked toward the Fire Fire Evil God, who was wandering about aimlessly in slippers. ”And them?”

”They’re even more formidable. That’s the Fire Fire Evil God, an ultimate Murder King. His Martial Arts are so powerful he’s practically inhuman. They are all Eastern Factory Brocade Guards!”

Li Huaizheng continued, ”But the strongest of all the Eastern Factory Brocade Guards, not counting Eunuch Hai, would have to be Kung Fu’s Number One Killing King. See? Over there, the ones in the Training Suits. They’re like Divine Demons. They can descend from the heavens, and their long-range Hand Seals can crater the earth. They can flatten a house dozens of meters away with a single palm strike through the air!”

”To be that powerful... doesn’t that make them invincible?!”

Zhao Wukang’s heart pounded with excitement, as if he were listening to a legend.

”And there are even stronger forces! Eggshell Village’s military might goes far beyond this. The Western Depot is just as strong as the Eastern Depot, and even more aggressive and battle-hungry. And the ’underpants Soldiers’ at the General’s Camp are incredibly tough, too!”

”What are ’underpants Soldiers’?”

”I believe their name is Leonidas, but I’m not entirely sure. Young Brother Zhao, when you have time, you should go to the Octagonal Cage’s arena and watch some of the tournaments. You’ll get a good sense of Eggshell Village’s soldiers and generals.”

”Yes, of course. Thank you for the guidance, Elder Li!”

”It’s nothing. Come, let me treat you to a meal. Hai Shen’s fried noodles at the First Dining Hall are to die for. I’ll take you to try them!”

”It should be I, the junior, treating you, Elder Li!”

”Nonsense, don’t be so formal...”

As Li Huaizheng and Zhao Wukang were exchanging pleasantries, Man Datou came running over with a group of Taisen.

”Barbarian Guard!”

Li Huaizheng hurried over and greeted him with a cupped-fist salute. He then introduced him to Zhao Wukang: ”This is the Lord’s personal guard. He used to be a militia instructor, and those promising militia leaders you hear about were all trained by him!”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wukang quickly saluted as well. ”I am Zhao Wukang. It is an honor to meet you, sir!”

Man Datou waved his hand dismissively. ”Name’s Man Datou. I’m not a personal guard anymore. The Master told me to command soldiers. I’m gonna be a general!”

Li Huaizheng said, ”You are a natural-born Divine General, Barbarian Guard. Are you here to train your troops?”

Man Datou pointed to a flight training chamber in a corner of the camp. ”I’m takin’ them for flight training. The Master thinks I’m just gonna command ground troops, but I’m gonna forge a squad of Celestial Soldiers to show him!”

Li Huaizheng replied, ”With your unparalleled spirit, Barbarian Guard, you will surely succeed!”

Zhao Wukang asked curiously, ”What is flight training? Could I perhaps undergo it as well?”

”You can! Complete the training, and you’ll get a personal Flying Bag!” Man Datou sized up Zhao Wukang. ”You’re a new recruit, right? If you wanna train, I can let you go first!”

”I couldn’t possibly, sir!”

Zhao Wukang’s eyes narrowed slightly. He suddenly said, ”Lord Man, I wish to enlist. May I have your permission to join your unit and train under you for a time?”

”Huh? It’s rare for someone to volunteer for my squad. You’ve got guts! Alright, from now on, you’re a Soldier in my Manzi Camp. You’d better train hard. In a bit, I’ll teach you a set of Military Boxing!”

Overjoyed, Zhao Wukang bowed deeply. ”Thank you for accepting me, General!”

Li Huaizheng, however, frowned. ’The Young Mistress seemed to say this Zhao Wukang was destined for the Military Affairs Office. I wonder if it’s appropriate for him to join Man Datou’s army now.’