The morning light gradually brightened.

Lin Feng stood by the window, watching as wisps of cooking smoke rose from the newly built wooden houses in the southwest corner of the camp.

The ninety-five people from Xiaoyao Stronghold were adapting to their new lives. Zhang Ping was leading a few young men to register information house by house, while Uncle Wu was checking the health of several elderly people.

Everything was in perfect order.

However, the first item on that list from Blue Star suddenly flashed through his mind.

【Special Village Establishment Order: Includes a special troop type and Advanced Wonder Blueprints upon establishing a territory...】

Advanced Wonder Blueprints.

Lin Feng's brow twitched slightly.

His Beacon Fire Village was built using a Special Village Establishment Order, and the Great Qin Elite Camp was already in his hands.

But where were the blueprints?

He recalled the information from when he first bound the Village Establishment Order.

In the 【Special Gift】 column, it only displayed "Randomly obtain one special troop building."

Only the barracks, no blueprints.

Were the rules different? Or...

Lin Feng's gaze grew deep.

Perhaps the blueprints weren't "missing," but rather "the time for them to appear hadn't come yet."

His current territory was still just a "village."

Some things would probably only be unlocked, manifest, and become visible to him after upgrading to a "town."

Just like hidden content in many games—if your level isn't high enough, even the menu remains greyed out.

"Upgrade to town level..."

Lin Feng murmured softly, his gaze falling back onto the newly settled wooden houses in the southwest corner.

The population was already sufficient.

Next up was the Nightmare Tide.

...

Three days later.

Evening.

The dark red sky was being swallowed bit by bit by the night. On the western horizon, lead-grey clouds were faintly piling up.

The unsettling energy fluctuations in the air were several times stronger than they had been a few days ago.

Council Hall. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The candlelight was bright.

Lin Feng sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall.

Zhao Hu stood at the front on the left, his guardian round shield hanging on his back and his bone-crushing greatsword tucked at his waist. He looked like a mobile iron tower.

Seeing Lin Feng look over, he grinned, revealing a row of sharp white teeth.

Shadow Snake still stood in the shadows of the furthest corner, her presence so elusive it was almost undetectable.

The deep blue fang was tucked behind her waist, and her cool eyes shimmered under the candlelight. When Lin Feng looked at her, she gave a slight nod.

Wang Wu stood beside Zhao Hu, a Black Iron Longbow slung across his back and his arms crossed over his chest.

His gaze was even sharper than it had been three days ago; he was like an arrow notched on a string.

Arrow Eye stood beside Wang Wu, his wind-chasing hunting bow also slung behind him. He was younger than Wang Wu, but that sharp aura was already starting to look similar.

Tie Dun shouldered his ironwall greatshield, standing boldly in the center. Seeing Lin Feng look over, he grinned and said, "Lord, my hands have been itching like crazy these past few days. I've just been waiting for tonight!"

Su Yurou stood a bit further back, holding a Pale Green Short Staff in her hand.

She was much more composed than when she first arrived. Seeing Lin Feng's gaze sweep past, she nodded slightly with a faint smile on her lips.

Scarface Liu and A Wang stood even further back. Both were level ten, and their auras were significantly more solid than before.

Lin Feng's gaze slowly swept across every person, and then he nodded.

"Not bad."

These two short words made everyone in the hall straighten their backs.

"Zhao Hu, level twelve." Lin Feng's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Shadow Snake, level twelve. Wang Wu, level twelve. Arrow Eye, level eleven. Tie Dun, max level ten.

Su Yurou, level eleven. Scarface Liu, A Wang, level ten."

He paused, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

"You haven't been slacking off these past few days."

Tie Dun's grin widened even further, and Zhao Hu rarely showed a hint of a reserved smile.

A flash of emotion passed through Wang Wu's eyes. He had only joined Beacon Fire Village for a few days and had already received a Class Change Book; this was something he wouldn't have dared to imagine before.

"However," Lin Feng's tone shifted, though his voice remained calm.

"Tonight's Nightmare Tide won't show mercy just because you've gained a few levels."

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became more solemn.

"In theory, how many monsters will be in a Level 2 Nightmare Tide?" Lin Feng looked at Zhao Hu.

Zhao Hu said in a heavy voice, "Based on my experience in Qingshi County, the minimum standard for a Level 2 Tide is over two hundred monsters, including at least two level 11-14 elites and one level 15 elite."

"Are you afraid?" Lin Feng suddenly asked.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Then, Tie Dun was the first to speak, his voice booming, "Afraid of what? We've fought so many battles with you, Lord; what haven't we seen? We'll kill however many come!"

Zhao Hu gave a cold laugh. "You brat just haven't been beaten hard enough yet. But..."

His tone shifted, a fierce light flickering in his eyes. "Even if we're afraid, we have to fight. Beacon Fire Village is our root. Anyone who wants to touch it will have to step over Old Zhao's corpse."

Wang Wu didn't speak; he just silently gripped his Black Iron Longbow. That action was an answer in itself.

Arrow Eye tested the string of his wind-chasing hunting bow and said softly, "I'll take care of the fast ones."

Shadow Snake remained in the shadows, but her cool eyes were now burning with a cold light identical to that of the deep blue fang.

Su Yurou held her short staff and said softly, "I will protect everyone."

Scarface Liu and A Wang looked at each other and said in unison, "Don't worry, Lord, we'll follow Brother Zhao!"

Lin Feng looked at each of these faces.

Some were resolute, some ferocious, some cold, some steady, some young, and some naive.

But on every face, the same word was written.

Battle intent!

"Good." Lin Feng stood up.

His gaze swept over everyone and finally landed on the darkening twilight sky outside the Council Hall.

"According to the fixed cycle, the Level 2 Nightmare Tide will descend at ten tonight."

"Beacon Fire Village was won by our blades and spears. Every inch of land, every house, and every citizen here was earned with our lives."

"If anyone wants to take them away—"

He paused, his voice not loud, but carrying a power that pierced the soul.

"They'll have to answer to the spear in my hand."

Inside the hall, everyone gripped their weapons tightly.

Lin Feng raised his hand and pointed toward the West Gate.

"At nine-thirty, assemble on the West Gate's wooden wall."

"Bring enough weapons, enough arrows, and enough medicine."

"And then—"

His gaze was like a burning spear tip.

"Wait for them to come."

"Yes!!!"

Everyone responded in unison, their voices echoing in the Council Hall, causing the candlelight to flicker.

...

The night deepened.

Nine-twenty.

West Gate.

The torches on the wooden wall were all lit, illuminating the top of the wall brightly.

But outside the wall, in the wilderness across the moat, there was a bottomless darkness.

That darkness was writhing and surging, as if something were brewing within it.

The seven Beacon Guards were already lined up on the wall. Their injuries had healed, and {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} their spear tips glinted coldly in the firelight, silent as iron.

Zhao Hu was the first to climb the wooden wall, his guardian round shield on his left arm and his bone-crushing greatsword on his shoulder.

He stood at the edge of the wall, looking out at the surging darkness in the distance, his mouth slowly curling into a grin.

"Come on then."