Chapter 243 – The Neighbor's Visit

In the southern part of Tianyuan Territory, several relatively magnificent buildings stood beside a large square where several main roads converged.

There was the Patrol Team Building, standing twelve meters tall.

Among non-Miracle Buildings, this four-story structure was already one of the most imposing edifices.

To one side stood another building with an extensive footprint—the First Canteen.

The canteen had now begun transitioning from state-run to privately operated. Apart from the third floor, which remained under the management of several ‘master chefs,’ the first and second-floor commercial spaces had been contracted out. As a result, the First Canteen now offered a much wider variety of dishes. Along the main road beside the canteen, several small eateries had also opened for business.

The area around Tianyuan Territory’s large square was already showing signs of burgeoning prosperity.

Next to the First Canteen and the Patrol Team Building stood a brand-new, even more eye-catching structure.

It resembled a massive sports arena, with a flat overall shape constructed from gray bricks with white patterns. Sharp towers rose at its four corners, and the entire building gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight, appearing grand and majestic.

The main entrance was six meters wide and three meters high, flanked by two lifelike gray stone sculptures of figures leaning on their swords. These statues frequently drew the attention of nearby residents, eliciting continuous exclamations of awe.

Above the door hung an emblem of crossed sword and shield, representing the ‘Warrior’ class.

This was the rare-grade building ‘Warrior Transformation Ground,’ whose magnificence seemed worthy of its rarity and cost—a single structure equivalent to several ordinary rare buildings.

The interior consisted of only one floor: a very spacious, almost empty hall.

The floor was paved with neat marble tiles, and at the far end stood a ten-meter-tall statue in a sword-raising pose. Before this statue was a small stone platform. These comprised the building’s basic configuration.

After the Warrior Transformation Ground was constructed, Mu Yuan added some additional features: counters, tables, and chairs. He also assigned several awakened troop types and two or three talented individuals selected from among the residents to serve as staff members working in shifts.

“Maintain formation! Those who disrupt order will have their transformation opportunity revoked and face public security penalties.”

“Is that understood?”

“Stand properly and undergo the test in an orderly manner. If you gain the approval of the transformation statue, that’s worth celebrating. If you don’t succeed in transforming, there’s no need for despair—you’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future.”

Niu Si, dressed in casual clothes, announced loudly.

The residents coming to receive professional legacies were already among the most diligent in the territory, which was why they were the first to receive this baptism and legacy opportunity—although Lord Mu dearly wished for all residents to obtain classes and produce Evolution Points, he understood that granting too many benefits without reason wasn’t advisable.

It had to be done step by step.

This transformation baptism opportunity could also boost residents’ work motivation, as some had already begun showing signs of slacking off now that they had adequate food and clothing.

This trend of negligence must not be allowed to take root.

The residents followed rules and maintained discipline, but they couldn’t help whispering among themselves.

“Bench Bro, do you think we can gain the Warrior God’s approval?”

“Don’t worry, Cabbage Sis, we definitely can!”

“My neighbor’s second uncle’s bunkmate passed the legacy test yesterday. They say after transforming, his strength increased so much he can now do the work of three or four people alone.””It’s Captain Niu! Can we become as strong as Captain Niu someday?”

“You’re dreaming.”

In the queue, a thin, small boy who looked only twelve or thirteen couldn’t help but clench his fists as he gazed at the distant statue.

Longing, anticipation, anxiety, tension.

The person at the front of the line ascended the steps and stood on the stone platform before the statue, but no radiance descended.

—In the Class-Change Ground, when a citizen steps onto the stone platform, the structure conducts an assessment of the individual.

If the assessment is passed, 100g of Soul Sand is consumed, and the person transitions into the ordinary two-star soldier class ‘Warrior’. Depending on the individual’s ‘potential’, the boost in strength and physique gained after the class change may vary slightly.

However, if the assessment is not passed, naturally, the class change cannot proceed. At the very least, it indicates that the individual does not meet the requirements for the Warrior class.

This was precisely why Mu Yuan wished the class-change structure were ‘Militia’—the requirements for becoming a Militia were much lower than those for a Warrior.

The citizens didn’t know the exact rules, but through word-of-mouth from previous class-changers, they had long understood that only when a white light descended would it signify that they had gained the approval of the God of Warriors, granting them the ‘power of a Warrior’.

“They say the brighter the white light that descends, the higher the potential of the person receiving the class. With high potential, we might even join the patrol team, get summoned by Captain Lu Liu, and even have a chance to meet the Lord!”

“I don’t think that far ahead. I’d be satisfied just passing the Legacy trial, but the odds don’t seem high.”

The thin boy, ‘Bamboo Stick’, observed the older brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts ahead of him undergoing the Legacy trial and noticed that only one or two, or at most two or three, out of every ten people received the Legacy.

The odds were indeed low.

Moreover, most of those who received the Legacy were robust and powerfully built.

Bamboo Stick glanced at himself and sighed quietly.

“Warrior Power, Level Three!”

Ahead, a brilliant white light showered down, enveloping a sturdy older brother who carried a wrench with him.

The muscles of this already well-built man visibly tightened and bulged even more, and an indescribable Aura began to emanate from him.

Like a crouching tiger.

Level Three Warrior Power was absolutely among the top tier of those who had received the class.

Bamboo Stick was envious, but unfortunately, he had been born weak. Even though he could eat his fill and stay warm here, some innate deficiencies couldn’t be remedied. He had accepted his fate—at least life now was much better than before, wasn’t it?

“Next, Bamboo Stick.”

An uncle nearby called out after checking the list.

Bamboo Stick took a deep breath and stepped forward, ascending the steps to the stone platform, his clenched hands trembling slightly.

He pressed his palms together.

Though he knew the chances were slim, he couldn’t help but pray silently in his heart.

One second, two seconds, two and a half seconds…

“As expected, I don’t have the talent…”

Then, a white light descended.

Brilliant, dazzling, like a pillar of light enveloping the thin, small boy. It lasted for several seconds, not only failing to fade but growing even brighter. The white light gradually shifted to light green, then green, and finally deep green before stabilizing.

After several more seconds, the radiant green pillar of light slowly dissipated.The young Bamboo Stick’s figure hadn’t grown much taller, and he was still far from being robust and muscular. Yet, at this moment, no one would consider him frail. He appeared lean and powerful, as if radiating a sharp edge.

Unlike other inheritors who only gained enhanced physical strength, a sword had materialized out of thin air in young Bamboo Stick’s hand.

The white light on the sword had just faded, but under the lamplight, the blade still gleamed with a cold, sharp glint.

The citizens were stunned.

Green light? So, a legacy class change could actually produce green light? It nearly blinded them with its brilliance.

“I know him—it’s Bamboo Stick from the 14th district. I always said that young man was extraordinary.”

Even Niu Si was taken aback by the green light. “This lad might have the makings of a commander!”

A prompt sounded in Mu Yuan’s ears.

He had configured the class-change building to send notifications only under special circumstances.

「Prompt: Your citizen ‘Bamboo Stick’ has unlocked his potential while receiving the Warrior Inheritance, transitioning to the special class ‘Swordmaster (Rare Three-Star).’」

“Hiss!”

Even Lord Mu was astonished.

He knew that class-change buildings had a chance to produce special or rare unit types, but the probability was far lower than recruiting upper-tier or even higher-tier units from unit buildings.

Moreover, this was a direct leap from a common two-star to a rare three-star.

Rare three-star units were something many veteran lords would go red-eyed competing for. Back in the resource secret realm, several powerful lords like Liu Cheng of Boulder Territory had fiercely contested over those few rare three-star remnant souls.

The reason Mu Yuan had managed to secure the Secret Realm Key and the Hero’s Token was largely because the veteran lords were too busy fighting over the rare three-star remnant souls.

“Rare three-star units aren’t a big deal to me, but since this young man named Bamboo Stick has managed to stand out, it indicates his potential is not low.”

“Promising future.”

Mu Yuan felt a slight sense of anticipation.

But only slight.

He had too many talents here. At most, he would provide young Bamboo Stick with some extra training. Other lords might have treated this young man as a treasure right away.

“Lord…”

Sickle Moon, with her wolf ears and tail, was one of the officials in the City Lord’s Mansion, primarily responsible for running errands and delivering messages.

She said, “There are outsiders visiting. They claim to be lords from nearby regions.”

This place was extremely remote. When was the last time outsiders came here? …

…

Several kilometers outside Tianyuan Territory.

A Garrison Legion squad led—and subtly monitored—a group of people heading toward the southern gate of the territory.

The group consisted of over twenty individuals, among whom there seemed to be shield-bearing Imperial Guards and archers carrying war bows.

All bore signs of recent combat.

After all, during the Crimson Mist disaster month, monsters had proliferated significantly. However, those capable of traveling long distances during such times were not to be underestimated.

The Lord of Red Leaf Territory followed the soldiers ahead, making his way toward the territory.

At the same time, he discreetly observed his surroundings.

Well-equipped soldiers; tall watchtowers; a dirt road stretching southeast… all of these caught his attention.

“This territory seems to have some strength. Not bad.”

He assessed.

He was indeed a lord from a nearby region. Before coming here, he had already visited several other territories in the vicinity.Firstly, he wanted to scout the surrounding territories. Secondly, the Lord of Red Leaf Territory hoped to leverage the pressure brought by the Crimson Mist disaster month to form a small alliance with several other territories.

Many regional Lords would do this.

It allowed for mutual support and offered opportunities for profit. For instance, if a monster Tribe was discovered, they could gather a few allies under the guise of the small alliance to jointly attack the Tribe.

The leader, naturally, would reap the greatest benefits.

He had already won over three Lords and reached preliminary agreements. Two other Lords were too weak for him to consider.

First update…

(End of chapter)