Chapter 385 – The Situation of the Ten Directions Island Domain

Tianyuan Calendar, Day 361 of the First Year.

Mu Yuan sat in his office, reviewing documents submitted by various departments and providing feedback one by one.

Outside the door, workers occasionally hurried past, and the clamor within the City Lord’s Mansion had noticeably increased.

—Isloria had recruited and trained a new batch of clerks, filling positions in the Town Hall and its subordinate institutions.

After all, the wartime period had passed. If they didn’t seize this opportunity to expand their clerical staff, the Town Hall would face a shortage of personnel when war erupted again.

Compared to the population of over thirty thousand residents, the administrative staff of Tianyuan City was minimal, barely sustained by a certain Hero taking on multiple roles.

This was not conducive to maintaining the stability of the territory.

For instance, during the defense of Tianyuan City, if the war had lasted a bit longer—a day or two—the territory would have struggled to remain stable.

He couldn’t let Isloria continue juggling multiple roles indefinitely.

After all, if a conflict arose, he would need someone to oversee the Epic Mage Tower. And only Isloria could maximize the power of the Epic Mage Tower.

A young woman in a star-blue robe, with a star-shaped ornament dangling from one earlobe, entered the office.

She was Moli, Isloria’s deputy—the most outstanding among the first and second batches of Starlight Scholars.

“Lord, these are the documents from Minister Isloria.”

She placed the stack of files she was carrying—piled so high they nearly obscured her entire face—onto a nearby table with a thud.

Wasn’t this a bit excessive?

But Lord Mu remained unfazed.

“Give me a brief overview,” he said.

“Yes.”

Moli stood two meters away, her hands clasped in front of her abdomen. Without glancing at the documents, she spoke fluently:

“There are four matters requiring your approval with a priority rating of three stars or higher.”

“First, the observation base of the Exploration and Logistics Department has been completed. The base commander, Battle Armor General, has invited you to visit. The schedule is yet to be determined.”

“Second, the Catkin Tribe, the Firelion Tribe, and the Multi-Armed Tribe have all agreed to our terms but have not yet formally signed the contracts. The minister has proposed the signing ceremony in six days. Your presence will be required then, as the minister believes it will help stabilize the sentiments of these three tribes.”

Mu Yuan pulled out the relevant documents.

Files related to this matter accounted for more than half of the towering stack.

He skimmed through them briefly.

Their cooperation with these minor factions involved the tribes providing their own mining personnel and daily guards, while Tianyuan City only dispatched supervisors and liaisons.

The mined minerals would be split seventy-thirty.

Naturally, Tianyuan City took seventy percent, with a minimum ore delivery requirement.

Seventy percent was by no means excessive.

After all, Tianyuan City not only provided the mineral veins—having driven back the dominant forces, the mineral veins within the territory naturally belonged to them, except for those agreed upon with Nature’s Garden and Boulder Mountain Ridge.

They also provided protection.

If any of the tribes faced monster hordes or attacks from the Legendary Realm, Tianyuan City would dispatch powerful reinforcements.

In the vast Wilderness, the key to occupying and mining a mineral vein lay in having a reliable backer.

A backer was the crucial factor.Tianyuan City has now become a regional powerhouse backed by formidable strength.

There is also information provided by the intelligence department.

The municipal department has also communicated with envoys from various races and recorded some information.

Moli said, “Pages 12 to 20 contain information related to the Catfolk; pages 21 to 39 are about the Fire Lion tribe; pages 40 to 49 concern the Apefolk.”

Mu Yuan flipped through the pages.

Among the four races previously identified—Catfolk, Fire Lion, Multi-Armed, and Apefolk—the Apefolk have not yet been contacted, and the possibility that they have perished cannot be ruled out.

Of the three remaining races, Sophia judged the Fire Lion tribe to be the strongest, as evidenced by their request to lease two mineral deposits.

After all, Tianyuan City only provides support during monster tides and attacks by Legendary Realm enemies.

At other times, even when facing attacks from several or over a dozen Fourth Order BOSSes, they must rely on their own strength to defend.

Or, they can request paid support.

The Catfolk are the weakest.

Mu Yuan spoke: “Continue.”

Moli: “Yes. The second matter is that the Winged-People Kingdom is demanding a larger share, claiming they are far stronger than the Catfolk and Fire Lion tribe and deserve better treatment. The minister did not agree.”

Mu Yuan said, “That’s correct. Tell them that if they have the strength, they can lease more sites.”

They have some cooperation with the Winged-People Kingdom, but to be frank, it’s only a little.

When it comes to interests, there can be no concessions.

Moreover, if concessions are made for the Winged-People Kingdom, how would the Catfolk, Fire Lion tribe, and others view it? The Winged-People Kingdom did not contribute to the defense of Tianyuan City.

Moli continued, “The third matter concerns Nature’s Garden and Boulder Mountain Ridge.”

“After internal discussions, Nature’s Garden and Boulder Mountain Ridge have decided to split up. One group will migrate to the territory of the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance, while the other will remain and plans to establish their own city outside.”

“In Nature’s Garden, the one staying is the Legendary Realm Pure White Sword Flower, Mirena; in Giant’s Ridge, only one Legendary Realm remains, the Frost King, Brokov.”

“These are the proposed city construction sites by the two major forces.”

Mu Yuan glanced at them; they are not close to Tianyuan City.

This is normal.

Facilitating connections for the two major forces was a condition he promised before the defense of Tianyuan City began.

Once the two forces split and relocate, the number of Legendary Realm beings in the Ten Directions Island Region will sharply decrease from eight to four, halving the count.

It seems the forces of the beings are greatly weakened.

Mu Yuan is not very concerned.

The strength of Jackal Fang and Blood Serpent Embrace has already been significantly reduced, and his Tianyuan Territory has gained two powerful assets: the Hall of Heroic Souls and the Epic Mage Tower. He would not mind fighting another battle.

“We will reply that we are willing to work with them to build a homeland for the beings, and we will attend the celebration on the day of the city’s founding.”

“Understood, it has been recorded.Moli had already opened her portable notebook, and her hand holding the pen moved like an electronic typewriter, swiftly writing on it.

Finally, she mentioned the fourth matter.

“Minister Isloria believes that the Town Hall is currently involved in too many aspects and should be separated from the City Lord’s Mansion. The office of the municipal department should be relocated to the newly built municipal building in the Southern District.”

“Is that so…”

Mu Yuan pondered.

The municipal department’s current authority is indeed extensive.Various combat reports and intelligence materials were all consolidated into this department. However, logically speaking, departments like intelligence and the Exploration Corps shouldn’t fall under the jurisdiction of the Town Hall.

But Tianyuan Territory was originally a makeshift operation—it had been less than a year since its establishment, still a few days short of a full year.

The territory’s officials, including Isloria, were all thrust into their positions hastily, so the management framework they built naturally had many gaps.

Actually, it wasn’t a big problem.

This was the Lord’s world—all power and authority ultimately resided with the Lord himself.

For official Lords or corporate Lords, this might not necessarily be the case, but independent Lords, regardless of their strength, definitely held absolute authority.

The troops recruited through Remnant Souls were bound to the Lord from the moment of their creation, forming the most loyal force under the Lord’s command.

Isloria didn’t originate from such troops, but… she was recruited from the Festival Grounds and had her body reconstructed through the power of the world’s laws. Her identity as a Hero of Tianyuan Territory was certified by the world’s laws, making her the most trusted of the trusted.

Mu Yuan had always trusted those he employed without suspicion.

And the facts proved that Isloria was very reliable… most of the time.

Her suggestion made sense, but Mu Yuan suspected that her main purpose in proposing it was to reduce her own workload.

After the split, wouldn’t the burden of the City Lord’s Mansion fall entirely on him, the Lord?

“Approved.”

Mu Yuan said.

The City Lord’s Mansion had indeed been a bit crowded these past few days, and the main function of the Town Hall was to manage the territory’s residents.

However, Isloria had thirteen permanent Incarnations—couldn’t one or two be assigned to handle the work of the City Lord’s Mansion?

…

Somewhere in the Ten Directions Island Region.

Within Nature’s Garden.

The elves were more bustling than ever, busy packing and relocating various items.

At the center of the Secret Realm.

Atop the ancient tree.

The elven legend Mirena remained silent for a long time. “Are you two really determined to migrate to the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance? We just defeated the Monster Overlord—this is the most hopeful moment we’ve had in a century!”

The elven legend Windchaser Ranger was silent for a moment. “Hope is merely hope. By going to the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance, we will be able to have a peaceful, tranquil homeland where we no longer have to live in fear.”

“Mirena, it’s true that we defeated the Overlord this time, but you must understand that the main force in this battle was Tianyuan City. Moreover, given Tianyuan City’s potential, it might only take a few years or a decade for them to leave our Nature’s Garden far behind. After all, they are humans, and we are elves—ultimately different races.”

“It’s different in the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance. I’ve confirmed that many elves live within the Alliance, and our elven race holds enough influence to rank among the top three in the Myriad Kingdoms. Not only that, but I’ve also made contact with one branch of elves whose ancestors, like ours, originated from the Empire’s Garden.”

But ancestral connections were just that—ancestral.

There might be some camaraderie, but it was certainly not much.

Besides…

The Myriad Kingdoms Alliance wasn’t absolutely safe either. There were conflicts and competition within the Alliance, and there had been incidents of Crimson Mist invasions.

After Nature’s Garden migrated to the Myriad Kingdoms’ territory, they would only be able to settle in remote, resource-poor, and not entirely safe areas.

In her view, this was far inferior to striving for a future in the Ten Directions Island Region.

After all, various mineral deposits were being mined, and they were no longer severely lacking in resources.

Moreover, there was still the hatred for the Monster Overlord.Some may forget, some may bury it deep, but Mirena will never forget. Her comrades, her teacher, her younger brother, her lover—all died at the hands of Jackal Fang. She would never forget.

“Let it be so.”

She sighed, “Don’t forget to keep in touch from now on. At least, we have abundant mineral resources here.”

Windchaser Ranger said, “Of course, good luck to you.”

He paused and added, “If… if the situation changes, you are always welcome here. This place will always be your home.”

…

That afternoon, Observation Base.

The base was built at the foot of the Black Colossus Mountain, less than ten kilometers from the former Gnolls fortress.

Mu Yuan rode Asun and brought Dolai along, arriving here in just half a day.

He soon met the base’s commander.

A burly man clad in full gray armor, towering like an iron fortress.

The man removed his helmet. “Welcome, sir.”

Mu Yuan shook hands with him. “The operation of the base still relies heavily on you, General. After all, I’m just an amateur.”

Nominally, Mu Yuan was the superior, overseeing the Observation Base.

However, as a newcomer to the Pioneer Group, his sudden appointment as acting commander was bound to cause discontent. Naturally, he would avoid doing anything that might invite criticism.

Under the guidance of Battle Armor General, Mu Yuan toured the Observation Base.

The base was small.

But it had already constructed rare-grade City Walls, along with defensive structures such as Arrow Towers, Multi-Arrow Turrets, and Thundercoil Towers.

At the very center stood an outstanding-grade structure, the core of the base—the “Mist-Chasing Lighthouse,” capable of locking onto the Filth Nexus and providing early warnings of Crimson Mist tides.

The entire Observation Base was garrisoned by three hundred elite soldiers, guarded by the Legendary Realm powerhouse, Battle Armor.

On ordinary days, the base had little to do.

But when something happened, it was often a major event.

“I will assign a liaison officer to be permanently stationed at the Observation Base, but the management and operation of the base will remain under your command, General. Should you encounter any unexpected situations, you can contact me promptly through the liaison officer or by using communication tools.”

…

By the time he returned to the territory, night had already fallen.

But with Lord Mu riding Asun and Dolai providing escort, one might think he could travel without restraint… but that was far from the truth.

Adhering to the principle of caution, Mu Yuan did not let Asun fly at full speed. This way, the dispersed Aura would be much weaker and less likely to attract the attention of enemies.

He hadn’t forgotten that Jackal Fang still existed.

He also hadn’t forgotten that Dragon’s Slumber Valley was right next door.

What if there were other passages between the Ten Directions Island Region and Dragon’s Slumber Valley? What if Dragon’s Slumber Valley had already sent powerful individuals to infiltrate secretly? What if the Ten Directions Island Region bordered other top-tier overlords?

Safety first.

Upon returning to the territory, Mu Yuan sought out Sophia.

Both were night owls… both were top-tier employees. At this hour, Sophia was still busy compiling and organizing intelligence.

“Do you know anything about Battle Armor General?”

“I know a little.”

She said.

“Battle Armor General is a veteran Legendary who entered the Legendary Realm ten years ago. He serves as a General under Nanshan Lord of the Pioneer Logistics Department.””And this Nanshan Lord is from roughly the same era as Minister Qin. The Nanshan Territory openly boasts a full nine Legendary Realm generals, and during his campaigns of expansion, this Nanshan Lord lost as many as six Legendary Realm commanders who fell in battle. He is a senior lord with deep experience and exceptionally illustrious military achievements.”

Mu Yuan felt a surge of profound respect.

The current Taixuan Alliance still frequently faces wars and assaults from the Crimson Mist tides, with many territories falling and numerous Legendary Realm experts perishing each year. Yet, compared to the early days, it has grown immeasurably stronger.

For Taixuan to have taken root and stabilized back then, the older generation must have paid countless sacrifices in blood and tears.

Sophia said dejectedly, “Our Tianyuan doesn’t have its own intelligence network. We can only gather information from the Alliance’s public platforms, so it’s a bit limited. I’ll try to find ways to gather more intel in the coming days.”

Mu Yuan shook his head. “No need, this is sufficient. It’s not your fault—building an intelligence network isn’t something that can be done overnight.”

He added, “Now that our Tianyuan City is publicly known, we might have visitors arriving one after another. You must stay vigilant against potential assassins and spies among them.”

“Understood!”

Sophia immediately perked up with renewed energy.

…

Mu Yuan returned to the City Lord’s Mansion but didn’t simply rest idly.

He went to the dedicated communication room within the mansion, opened the third drawer, and retrieved the communication artifact to contact Minister Qin.

The elder was probably already aware of the news about the observation base’s completion, but Mu Yuan still felt he should inform him personally.

It was only when Mu Yuan initiated the call that he realized how late it was.

Just as he considered hanging up, someone on Minister Qin’s end answered, and the minister himself was on his way.

Two minutes later,

the connection was established. Mu Yuan chatted with Old Qin for a while, sharing some details about the Ten Directions Island Region.

“If you encounter any situations, you can seek assistance from Nanshan’s generals. I’ve watched Zhan Kai grow up—he’s quite capable.”

“Don’t worry, Elder Qin. The Ten Directions Island Region is relatively calm for now. I believe that in a little more time, our Tianyuan Territory will truly stand firm, unafraid of Monster Overlords.”

Old Qin stroked his beard.

He certainly believed that.

Currently, Tianyuan could only resort to defensive measures, relying on allies and trump cards to repel Overlords. But in another six months, a year, or two, once several of his peak generals within the territory stepped into the Legendary Realm, he reckoned they could defend against and drive back Overlords using conventional forces alone.

He was well aware that Tianyuan had several peak experts under his command who already possessed the ‘potential of legends.’

However, the impending migration of Nature’s Garden and Boulder Mountain Ridge might significantly reduce the living forces in the Ten Directions Island Region, thereby creating opportunities for Monster Overlords.

Still, with Zhan Kai stationed there, this gap in combat power could be filled.

He hoped this kid Tianyuan would grow up quickly.

Taking the opportunity, Mu Yuan also asked Old Qin about the advanced training academy.

“That matter does exist,”

Minister Qin said. “The academy primarily targets citizens of Xuan Nation of appropriate age, with both Elementary and Advanced colleges. A certain number of slots have always been reserved for you lords.”

“The current requirements are: either send capable instructors—one instructor can be exchanged for several Advanced college training slots—or use Contribution Points to redeem them.”

That was a relief.

He wasn’t short on Contribution Points for now, and sending capable instructors wasn’t a problem either.

What Tianyuan Territory lacked least was generals.But Minister Qin continued, “I can give you more slots, but there’s a small condition.”

Mu Yuan: “Huh?”

Minister Qin: “The condition is simple. In the coming months, after the frontline battles conclude, the Alliance will hold a military parade celebration. This aims to stabilize public sentiment and show the people that although the world has changed, our Xuan Nation and Taixuan still have the strength to defend our homeland. At that time, I hope you, as a representative of the younger generation, will lead a military unit to participate in the parade ceremony, showcasing the face of our Taixuan to the nation and the world.”

Mu Yuan: “Huh?”

(End of Chapter)