Chapter 33: Territorial Expansion
Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Xia Chengfeng's first call was to extend the space of his territory. He had amassed over a hundred [One-Star Space Crystals] from both his explorations and the rewards he received from the scoreboard.
He had now over 10,000 magic crystal coins and wanted to buy even more space crystals, but he noticed that the three factions in the area had already set up a purchase thread on the trading channel to purchase [One-Star Space Crystals].
The factions quickly realized that expanding the area of their space bubble was of paramount importance if they wanted to expand their territory.
Xia Chengfeng also put up a thread to purchase [One-Star Space Crystals] and various other construction materials and daily necessities.
He had the most amount of money in area 2222, and therefore, was the richest player in the area!
By the time he finished using the space crystals, Xia Chengfeng's territory had increased to 1,800 cubic meters and was triple the size from before. He would have an estimated 600-square-meter production area to work with if the average height of his space bubble was three meters.
Xia Chengfeng reconfigured the shape of his space bubble. He then expanded his farm, medicinal field, pigpen, and sheep pen. He also rebuilt his stone hut and biogas digester.
Xia Chengfeng toiled the entire day while Xiaozi ate the roast pig next to her. Her stomach looked bloated after she bobbled it up, and she then fell asleep beside the Beast God totem.
"I'm finally done!" Xia Chengfeng heaved a sigh of relief when he saw his refurbished territory.
He did not alter his space bubble at a whim, but always had a plan in mind. He also allocated adequate space for any future expansion.
Xia Chengfeng planned to expand the area of his territory tenfold within the next thirty days. Only then would he be able to construct more buildings and even think about housing a few inhabitants.
"[Blood Vapor Crystal Lv8], [Soul Rock Lv8], [Magic Crystal Coin] x80, [Energy Crystal Lv8]..." Xia Chengfeng set up a [Life Alchemy Array] and laid within the chamber. As he slept, the array gradually enhanced his body.
The level of his passive skill [Life Alchemy Array] would increase with the quality of materials used. The material that he got from decomposing the corpse of the tauren elder should increase the level of Life Alchemy Array to Lv8.
Xia Chengfeng's body rapidly recovered to peak condition within the [Life Alchemy Array].
Xia Chengfeng felt that his body brimming with energy when he woke up. His mind also felt incredibly refreshed.
He saw Xiaozi crouching beside the pigpen when he opened his eyes. She was drooling as she stared hungrily at the pigs and looked like she was raring to have a go.
"Xiaozi!" Xia Chengfeng scowled, "You want to steal a bite again? Come over here, you haven't trained yet. Practice your lightning flames a hundred times! No meals for you until you are done training!"
This was not the first time. Xiaozi had secretly eaten a pig in the past. She had cooked it with her lightning flames but got caught by Xia Chengfeng. Xia Chengfeng gave her a harsh lecture.
"Rrrr!" Xiaozi flew over indignantly. She still could not get over the pig.
24 hours had now passed and all the changes announced by the system had taken effect. The prosperity scoreboard was also updated.
Prosperity Scoreboard:
1st: Breeze. Prosperity Score 66.
2nd: Yang Yong. Prosperity Score 60.
3rd: Wu Rui. Prosperity Score 55.
4th Feifei. Prosperity Score 53.
5th: Yang Kai. Prosperity Score 50.
…
The players in the current leader board differed from those of the previous scoreboard. Even Wu Rui, who "cherishes" his life and did not actively head out to explore, could achieve a decent prosperity score with the resources contributed by his team.
The reason Xia Chengfeng was temporarily in the first place was that he won 100 [One-Star Space Crystals] as a reward for being first on the previous scoreboard. It allowed him to increase his space crystal by 1000 cubic meters, which resulted in his point increase.
Those under him would surpass him in a few hours if he did not head out and explore caves for new resources.
"I can't buy any space crystals!" Xia Chengfeng realized no one was selling him any space crystals or construction designs, even though he had put up a trading thread for an entire day.
The appearance of the Two-Star caves and mystery caves had caused many of the existing individual players to join one of the three factions.
The factions had strict orders that restricted the sale of materials that could boost another player's glory score, and immediately, the number of goods on the trading platform plummeted significantly.
"I can't buy any space crystals, but aren't there any puppet designs?" Xia Chengfeng wanted to purchase a puppet design from the forums.
Someone finally contacted him a little later.
It was Feifei from the Sector 2222 Mutual Assistance Association. He sent Xia Chengfeng a message: @Breeze, I have a [Skeleton Soldier Crafting Scroll]. Do you want it?"
[One-Star Skeleton Soldier Crafting Scroll]: Provides instructions for the method of creating skeleton soldiers. Required materials: [Skeleton], [Soul Rock], [Magic Crystal], [Element Crystal], [Death Soul Herb].
The level of the skeleton soldier correlated to the level of the materials used, as well as the level and familiarity of the user. The highest level a skeleton could be was Lv10.
"I want it!" Xia Chengfeng replied immediately.
Both necromancers and alchemists could use the scroll. With his current stock of materials and level, Xia Chengfeng could create a Lv8 elite puppet!
Feifei: "5000 magic crystal coins."
Breeze: "??? c'mon, you're just being mean!"
Feifei: "You dare call me mean? You are the meanest player in our area! And I know that you have the money!"
Breeze: "You can't take advantage of me like that even if I have money. I'll take it for 500!"
Feifei: "You call that haggling? Removing a zero immediately. I call that an insult! At least 4500 magic crystal coins!"
Breeze: "Let's do this, I'll trade you for it. [Beginner Beast God Totem]. That's a good item. It is great for both rearing livestock or nurturing pets! You can't even buy it from the trading channel! It can even boost your prosperity score!"
"Will you trade for it now? Give me an answer!"
The [Beginner Beast God Totem] was part of the extra loot that Xia Chengfeng gathered from the tauren village. And besides, he could craft more of those as long as he had the right materials.
Feifei considered the offer for a moment and ultimately agreed to trade: Sure!
He had to collect anything that could enhance his territory and increase his prosperity score.
Xia Chengfeng completed the trade and a [One-Star Skeleton Soldier Crafting Scroll] then appeared in his hand.
He studied the scroll and then gathered the ingredients needed to craft the puppet.
When crafting a skeleton soldier, the level of a skeleton soldier would be one level lower than the level of the materials used.
For example, the skeletons of an ordinary tauren could only make a [Handicapped Skeleton Soldier] and the skeletons of elite monsters would create [Skeleton Soldiers]. Only the skeleton of the tauren elder could make elite-level skeleton soldiers.
Xia Chengfeng first used a few ordinary tauren skeletons to test out the skill and increase his familiarity with the technique.
System Notification: Crafting failure.
In his next attempt, the message appeared again: Crafting failure.
And, in the following attempt, he received another notification: Crafting success. Received [Handicapped Skeleton Soldier Lv5].
A tauren skeleton staggered as it stood up, and wisps of black gas swirled around it.
Xia Chengfeng tried to control it with his puppet control technique but realized that this skeleton was much weaker than a tauren in terms of power, speed, and durability. Even though it was a Lv5 monster, it was one of the weakest Lv5 monsters out there.
To make matters worse, it was handicapped, and one of its limbs was completely useless.
"Again!" Xia Chengfeng took out all the tauren skeletons, soul rocks, and other resources he gathered in the past to practice the technique.
As a dozen more tauren skeletons got destroyed, he finally crafted a relatively better [Handicapped Skeleton Soldier Lv6].
The skeleton of the tauren shaman was very frail and could not be used to create skeleton monsters. Xia Chengfeng thus took out the skeletons of the three elite creatures.
System Notification: Crafting success. Received [Skeleton Soldier Lv7] x3.
Xia Chengfeng succeeded with the three Lv7 monsters. Only then did he decide to work on the skeleton of the tauren elder.
System Notification: Crafting success. Received [Sturdy Skeleton Soldier Lv8 (Elite)] x1.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone