The return of Chinon and the arrival of the lords!

Cao Xing made the final decision to use the blueprint from the fourth option.

The industrial development of the second version was indeed good, but his territory's current strength was already powerful enough; there was no need to pursue the benefits brought by industrialization.

In comparison, the commercialized city of the fourth option better aligned with his long-term planning and could lay the foundation for the territory's future diversified development.

Upon hearing Cao Xing's decision, Edward's face revealed a smile of relief.

"Lord, your wisdom is brilliant; I also think the fourth version is the best."

Cao Xing nodded, then waved his hand, collecting all four versions of the blueprints from the floor into his backpack.

He glanced at Edward, his tone carrying a hint of approval: "You did very well."

"However, there are still some things I need you for next."

Edward's expression turned serious: "Please give your orders, Lord."

Cao Xing said: "Starting tomorrow, a large group of workers should arrive in our territory, and then we will prepare for the construction of the Giant City."

"I appoint you as the Chief Commander of the Engineering Department. Have these workers build the city according to your vision and the plans on the blueprint."

"Besides that, I will also send Yorun and Cao Yi to assist you."

"Make sure there are no mistakes!"

This blueprint was drawn by Edward, and he was the only one who clearly understood some of its details.

Edward nodded solemnly: "Yes, Lord! I will give it my all and will not fail your trust!"

Cao Xing nodded slightly: "Very good, you go back and get some good rest now."

"Recharge your energy to handle tomorrow's tasks."

"Understood!"

After saying this, the artist quickly turned and left the area.

After he left, Cao Xing took out the fourth version of the map and carefully studied it once more.

Upon confirming that the plans discussed by everyone earlier—such as the three major associations, the welfare institution, the church, and other facilities—were basically all included, he felt at ease.

"Not bad, the territory's blueprint is settled. Tomorrow, we can officially implement it and start building the city!"

Cao Xing nodded with satisfaction.

Just as he was preparing to go back to rest.

He suddenly sensed two auras outside the territory, approaching the city gate.

One was familiar, and the other was unfamiliar.

Cao Xing stopped, and a smile gradually appeared on the corner of his mouth: "They actually returned at this time? That is quite timely."

He quickly opened the city gate and went outside the territory.

Under the lamplight, two figures walked side by side.

On the left was Qinong, whose figure was tall and straight like a spear.

Beside him, a woman who looked gentle and dignified was holding his arm, walking slowly toward the city gate.

Very clearly, this was Qinong's wife.

The two of them also noticed Cao Xing.

Qinong stepped forward and said with a hint of joy: "Lord Cao Xing, I have returned with my wife."

A smile appeared on Cao Xing's face: "Congratulations, Lord Qinong."

"You acted very quickly this time."

Qinong shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of relief: "Yes, I was quite lucky this time. I found my wife at the very first stronghold I went to."

"The food and water in that stronghold were already running out."

"If I had been any later, I would have been trapped by this blizzard, and my wife might have…"

He did not continue.

Upon hearing this, a look of emotion appeared in Cao Xing's eyes.

"It is good that you have returned, Lord Qinong. Everything is in the past now."

Qinong nodded and then led the woman beside him over.

"Lord Cao Xing, this is my wife, Kailin."

Cao Xing shifted his gaze toward her.

The woman looked to be in her early forties with a beautiful face, but her complexion was somewhat pale.

Especially her lips, which were devoid of color, looking like someone who had just recovered from a major illness.

Qinong turned his head and said to his wife beside him: "Kailin, this is the Lord Cao Xing I told you about. It was he who saved me from the hands of the Watchers."

"It was also he who led his powerful subordinates and joined forces with several major kings to end the Watchers' conspiracy and repel the Blood Legion."

"He has saved countless lives from misery."

Upon hearing this, Kailin bowed slightly, her tone filled with respect: "Greetings, Lord Cao Xing."

"Thank you for saving my husband and for being willing to take us in."

Cao Xing nodded and then said: "You are welcome. Since Mr. Qinong has joined my territory, his family is also family to our territory."

"If you need anything in the future, just tell me."

His tone was very approachable, yet it carried an air of majesty and composure.

Having managed the territory for so long, Cao Xing's current behavior and speech now carried the aura of a leader.

It made people feel both warmth and awe.

Kailin did not dare to raise her head from start to finish, only responding in a low voice: "Yes, thank you, Lord Cao Xing…"

Cao Xing did not say anything more and turned his gaze to Qinong: "Mr. Qinong, you must be exhausted from the journey."

"Now, go back and take your wife to rest."

Qinong nodded solemnly, his tone full of gratitude: "Thank you very much, Lord Cao Xing!"

After saying this, he supported his wife and entered the territory.

Watching their backs, Cao Xing also felt a sense of relief: "Not bad, Qinong is back too."

"With this, except for Bing Lan, the territory members are basically all here."

He calculated in his heart: "Looking at it this way, the day after tomorrow, I can take Qinong along to march into that ancient ruin."

"He has been there once before and has relevant experience, so he can guide us."

"Of course, I cannot take all the core members away; I must leave some people to guard the territory."

Thinking this over, Cao Xing walked toward the Lords Castle.

While they returned to their rooms to rest, many figures were rushing toward the area where his territory was located from the Gale Snowfield and several surrounding regions.

They were divided into small squads, traveling day and night through the stars and moon.

These people were the lords of the various territories of the Starfire Legion.

They were bringing their subordinates and workers, rushing toward Cao Xing at full speed.

The purpose was to provide labor support to Cao Xing as soon as possible and participate in the construction of the Giant City.

One night passed quickly.

The next day.

A system notification appeared.

[Attention all Survivors! You have survived the 28th day of the Turbulent Period.]

[Weather Forecast: Today's weather is sunny turning to cloudy, with a minimum temperature of -57°C to -65°C. Suitable for going out and developing the territory.]

The moment the notification ended, Cao Xing opened his eyes instantly.

He first looked to his side; it was empty.

Liu Muxue had just entered the Dream Library yesterday, and it would be some time before she woke up.

He had just prepared to get up and wash up.

At this moment, a knock on the door came from outside the Lords Castle.

"Knock, knock! Knock, knock, knock!"

Then, a steady voice came through.

"Lord, I am Cao Yi. I have something to report to you."

Upon hearing this, Cao Xing's expression stirred slightly, and he replied: "Understood, I will be down immediately."

He quickly put on his clothes and came to the first floor of the Lords Castle.

Pushing open the door, what met his eyes was still a peaceful morning scene.

Thin mist shrouded the territory, and the arrow towers and city walls in the distance were faintly visible in the morning light.

Outside the gate stood another figure.

A weathered face, a straight posture—it was the territory citizen Cao Yi.

Upon seeing Cao Xing, the citizen Cao Yi quickly bowed, his tone carrying a hint of urgency: "Lord, many Otherworld Lords have arrived outside the territory."

"They have brought a large number of Arctic People and workers, and they have been gathered outside the territory since early morning."

"These people are all shouting that they want to come and help you build the city. There are too many of them, and I did not dare to make a decision without authorization, so I let them wait outside."

Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Cao Xing's mouth.

He knew that this meant the lords of the Starfire Legion had arrived.

Opening the Legion channel, he indeed saw a large screen full of messages.

Tan Xiaofeng: "Commander! We have arrived near your territory, open the gate quickly!"

Shu Shouchen: "Holy crap! The Commander's territory is too prosperous! So many arrow towers, and so many Neros Cannon on the city walls—my goodness! This defensive capability is too overpowered!"

Li Jingxuan: "Living in this kind of territory must be full of security; I really want to move in!"

Tian Zimo: "Commander! Open the gate, Commander!"

Looking at the enthusiastic messages from everyone in the channel, Cao Xing smiled slightly.

He quickly replied: "Everyone, please calm down; I am coming over right now."

After saying this, Cao Xing pressed the communication device by his ear.

"Yorun, Edward, Victoria, you come with me."

After hearing the voice, the responses from the painter and the Qi Empress immediately reached my ears.

"I'm coming right away, Lord!"

"Understood."

Only a minute or two passed.

The three of them walked over from two different directions.

Since Cao Xing had instructed last night that the construction of the Giant City would begin today, and a large number of workers would arrive near the territory,

Edward had specifically changed out of his ink-stained clothes today and put on a cleaner set.

As for Yorun, he was wearing a simple cotton outfit.

As for Victoria, it was an entirely different scene.

As the former queen of the Renova Kingdom, her temperament and bearing always exuded an innate nobility and majesty.

A deep purple gown outlined her slender figure, the hem swaying slightly with her steps.

As she approached, it seemed as if the very air around her grew heavy.

The three of them arrived at Cao Xing's side and bowed in unison,

"Lord, may you be well."

Cao Xing nodded slightly and said first, "The three of you, along with Cao Yi, come with me."

"Starting today, the construction of the Giant City will officially begin."

"I will take you to meet the workers participating in the construction first, and then I will assign your specific tasks later."

Everyone exchanged glances, then nodded solemnly.

"Understood, Lord."

Soon, Cao Xing led the four of them to the side of the territory gate.

"Rumble—"

As the heavy territory gate opened, the scene outside immediately came into view.

A large group of Otherworld Lords had gathered on an open space.

Each of them had brought over a hundred workers, standing scattered in groups, waiting expectantly.

The faces of these lords were filled with anticipation and excitement, their gazes fixed collectively on the direction of the gate.

Upon seeing Cao Xing, these Survivor lords immediately erupted into excitement.

They said excitedly, "It's the Commander! The Commander is out!"

"Great Lord Cao Xing, good morning!"

"Commander, I've brought the one hundred most capable people from my territory."

"Commander, when do we start working? I can't wait!"

Cao Xing stood at the gate, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, a faint smile appearing on his face.

He raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.

He then said, "Everyone, first of all, I would like to thank you all for bringing your workers and traveling all this way."

"However, before that, there are some things I need to clarify."

The noise in the crowd gradually died down, and they all looked at Cao Xing earnestly, waiting for his next words.

"I believe everyone is very clear about the specific actions and what needs to be done next."

"Building a Giant City is not a matter of a day or two; it requires a great deal of time and energy."

"Therefore, from now on, this group of workers will work in my territory until the day the Giant City is completed."

"And I will also fulfill my promise and give you sufficient compensation."

"During this period, I do not want any lord to recall their workers halfway through the construction."

Cao Xing's voice was calm, yet it revealed an unquestionable majesty that was clearly transmitted to everyone's ears.

This could be considered laying down the hard truths beforehand, to avoid anyone changing their minds later and delaying the project's progress.

After hearing this, everyone nodded in understanding.

They also knew that building a Giant City was no small matter.

"Don't worry, Commander! Since we've brought the people, we will definitely see it through to the end."

"That's right! I've already spoken to these people, and they will cooperate fully."

Cao Xing nodded; the lords of the Starfire Legion had high awareness and obedience.

He continued, "Additionally, the construction of a Giant City is quite complex and involves many aspects."

"Therefore, I will arrange for a few supervisors to oversee the overall situation."

"In the future, I hope the workers you brought will obey their commands."

After speaking, he looked at Cao Yi, Yorun, Edward, and Victoria beside him.

The four stepped forward and stood beside Cao Xing.

At this moment, tens of thousands of eyes looked over.

However, almost all the attention fell on Victoria.

Hardly anyone looked at Yorun and Edward beside her.

It was simply because the queen's temperament was too outstanding.

Her posture was upright and elegant, her face cold, beautiful, and noble, making it impossible for people to look away.

"Oh my god—. So beautiful——"

"This big sister is so beautiful—"

Exclamations rose from the crowd, all amazed by the beauty of this Qi Queen.

Even some women couldn't help but take a few extra looks, their eyes filled with envy.

Victoria seemed long accustomed to the reactions around her and just calmly surveyed the crowd.

When her sapphire-like eyes swept over, many people couldn't help but hold their breath.

Cao Xing smiled lightly, not surprised by their reactions.

He asked in a deep voice, "Everyone, can you do it?"

Only then did these lords come back to their senses.

Then, they shouted, "No problem, Commander Cao Xing!"

"Our people will follow orders!"

Other lords also responded one after another.

Cao Xing nodded with satisfaction and continued, "Then now, all lords come to me to trade for the agreed share of Legendary beast meat."

"After that, leave your workers behind, and you can leave."

Hearing that they were going to trade for Legendary beast meat, these lords couldn't help but get excited.

Although they were willing to help Cao Xing with volunteer labor, being able to reap benefits, and such precious beast meat at that, still made their enthusiasm soar!

They lined up one after another and then orderly came over to trade with Cao Xing.

And Cao Xing gave them the corresponding beast meat based on the number of workers they brought.

Basically, it was priced at 1 person = 100g (1 portion) of beast meat.

After about ten minutes or so.

This batch of lords had all finished trading.

They had all received at least 50 portions of Legendary beast meat, and everyone had a satisfied smile on their face.

Looking at the situation on the field, they knew that Cao Xing still had a lot to do.

The lords said one after another, "Commander, we'll leave these people to you; we won't disturb you anymore!"

"Goodbye, Lord Cao Xing! We'll come back to visit once the Giant City is built!"

"Commander, save me a house when the time comes; I'm moving into your city."

Listening to their greetings, Cao Xing also smiled and nodded in response.

"Alright, I'll notify you once the Giant City is built. At that time, you can take these workers back."

"No problem, Commander!"

These lords bade farewell one after another and then left the place one by one.

Cao Xing, Victoria, and the others remained.

Along with the tens of thousands of workers who remained waiting.

Cao Xing made a rough count.

The number of workers here was about 50,000.

More than half of them were Arctic People.

As a race in this world known for their endurance and hard work, the Arctic People had high work efficiency and were also very obedient.

Therefore, most of what these legion lords brought were from this race.

Tens of thousands of workers stood there, appearing somewhat reserved and at a loss.

They could tell that this territory was much more prosperous than the ones they had originally stayed in, and the lord's strength was many times more formidable.

Although those Starfire Legion lords had instructed them on what to do next before they came out.

And had told them that this was a task without danger, and they just needed to act as they usually did.

But even so, this group of workers still felt extremely nervous.

Cao Xing could naturally see their thoughts.

He slowly began, "Everyone, there is no need to be nervous; your upcoming tasks are not complex."

"You just need to follow commands and execute them according to our requirements."

"Here, no one will harm you, and we will even dispatch personnel to protect you while you work."

His voice sounded calm, but amplified by magic, it revealed a power that soothed the heart; after hearing this, those workers couldn't help but feel somewhat reassured.

Then they raised their heads one after another, gazing at the man who was speaking, the lord of this territory.