Chapter 3: Upgrading the Territory

The gentle sunlight poured down onto the land.

This was a stretch of wetlands, its climate no different from Blue Star.

At this moment, the Undead Avatar—also known as one of Qilin’s incarnations—was walking across this ground.

However, her eyes were filled with a hint of grievance, and her unhappy expression carried a trace of complaint toward the main body.

At her feet lay a Wild Chicken she had just slain with her scythe.

Though she had the physique of an ordinary person, dealing with a chicken was no problem.

Of course, with the first creature she killed, everything became much easier.

As Qilin activated her skill, the scythe in her hand emitted a gray energy.

Immediately, the corpse of the Wild Chicken seemed to be summoned, beginning to tremble in midair.

With a tearing sound, a Skeleton shredded the Wild Chicken’s body and crawled out.

The Skeleton stood respectfully before Qilin.

She raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a cute smile.

“Very good. Listen to my command—eliminate all creatures you see outside the territory!”

The Skeleton was the lowest type, barehanded and weaponless.

Naturally, it lacked intelligence.

But as an undead, it possessed the usual undying abilities.

Unless its bones or Soul Flame were destroyed, it would not die.

At the same time, just like Qilin herself, it felt an innate disgust toward all living beings.

This was a racial trait she could not control.

The life form of a chicken was lower than that of a human, so the summoned Skeleton was not only humanoid but also the weakest kind.

If she could kill more powerful monsters, she could directly summon Bone Beasts.

Watching the Skeleton stagger off into the distance, Qilin knew things would soon improve.

At that point, she would no longer have to act personally.

“It’s all the main body’s fault for getting randomly assigned as a farmer—damn it, damn it!”

After thinking for a moment, the sulking Qilin picked up her scythe and set out alone.

The main body is foolish—my Undead Avatar will replace it!

Of course, she only dared to think this way, not act on it.

After all, the life of the main body was her own, and her life was also hers.

In other words, if the main body died, everything would be lost; but if an incarnation died, it was just one less incarnation.

She wondered if, in the future, these incarnations could also be linked to the main body’s life…

Soon, she cut down another Wild Chicken.

A blue energy drifted out, slowly entering Qilin’s body.

This was energy, and once accumulated to a certain level, she could upgrade.

Energy was shared between the incarnation and the main body—meaning the main body’s limit determined hers.

Since she killed it herself, she gained one hundred percent of the energy; if a Soldier Type did the killing, she would only receive a trace.

Most Lords relied on energy provided by their Soldier Types, who killed enemies continuously for upgrades.

Another Skeleton was summoned.

Qilin grabbed the two chicken corpses and set off with her subordinate.

Though, as an undead, she didn’t need to eat, the main body and those farmers did.

“Sigh, I still have to take care of the main body too. I feel like a nanny…”

—

On the other side, within the territory.

After a morning’s work, the farmers had gathered enough wood and stone for the Territory Upgrade.

Qilin watched as they brought the materials back one after another, feeling gratified.

Meanwhile, her own incarnation had been out all morning, developing without any news.

But Qilin didn’t blame her.

After all, her starting point was too low, and as ordinary people, the first day of monster fighting and leveling up was still a struggle.

She certainly didn’t expect blueprints, gold coins, or other loot to drop.

As long as her level increased, Qilin believed her development would eventually reach a breakthrough.

Soon, the farmers neatly stacked the resources inside the territory.

With a grand gesture, he directly chose to upgrade the territory.

[Territory Upgrade…]

[Level too low. Upgrade time: none.]

As the screen prompt disappeared, it signified the upgrade’s completion.

But the surroundings remained unchanged, only the construction list lit up.

Within it were several basic buildings unlocked upon reaching a low-level village.

[Building Name: Warehouse]

[Effect: Can store any materials, capacity one thousand units.]

[Required for construction: one hundred units of wood, one hundred units of stone.]

[Building Name: Residential House]

……

Out of resources again.

But it didn’t matter.

By afternoon, they could surely build them.

“But if the Warehouse has capacity, it means it can also be upgraded.”

Qilin realized this, and immediately went to check in front of a residential house.

Sure enough, residential houses could also be upgraded!

Moreover, to further upgrade the Lord’s Hall, all buildings needed to be constructed first.

Other buildings had no level requirements.

A glance at the effect showed that upgrading the residential house increased farmer capacity from four to eight.

“Simple enough. It’s just like the SLG Game I used to play.”

But this time, in the resource-scarce early stages, every building upgrade needed careful consideration.

The working farmers didn’t leave right away.

Instead, they all gathered together, staring into the distance, on high alert.

Qilin looked closely.

In the distance, four skinless Skeletons were approaching, some holding or carrying animal corpses, and even a few gleaming gold coins gripped in bony hands.

They were summons of her own incarnation!

Though they weren’t mentally linked, the subtle connection allowed him to easily identify them.

“Everyone, don’t worry. These are my summons, here to bring food.”

As soon as Qilin spoke, the surrounding farmers dropped their guard.

Their trust in their Lord was unconditional.

Moreover, after a morning of labor, Lord Qilin had even prepared food for them—how could they not be moved?

For these native farmers, making fire by rubbing sticks was simple.

Soon, a Campfire was lit in the camp.

Here, with limited conditions, food could only be simply cooked—roasted.

Of course, this was all left to them.

At this moment, Qilin faced the four dim-witted Skeletons, calmly accepting the gold coins from their hands.

Six in total.

Enough to make an even sum for her farmers.

The known use for gold coins at present was summoning Soldier Types, so he didn’t hesitate to use them.