093. "8181 Golden Eye's Guide to Wealth"
Li Aozi's call received no response, only a light breeze rustling through the trees.
Yavanna didn't answer.
Regardless, she must have heard what he said. All Li Aozi could do now was his best—everything else was up to Yavanna's choice.
He could easily deceive strangers and enemies, but when it came to an honest, innocent girl like Yavanna, Li Aozi felt he needed to at least act human.
"Forget it. Yavanna will figure it out on her own."
Shaking his head, Li Aozi turned to inspect the two dungeon crystals he'd entrusted Yavanna to set up—objects whose effects varied depending on the NPC profession that crafted them.
For example, [Mage]-crafted crystals often create independent monster farming dimensions with higher material drop rates, [Mechanic]-crafted ones provide virtual scenarios with rich experience bonuses, and [Warrior]-crafted ones offer "martial enlightenment" chances to gain combat skills.
As a [Star Echoer], Li Aozi's dungeon crystals took the form of "memory echoes," allowing players to experience scripted scenarios he created or freely make their own choices, like a live-action role-play game.
"Abyss Humanitarian Laboratory" was a low-level dungeon designed not just for White Candle Star players but for all public beta participants. Most players could meet the minimum requirements in about two weeks.
As for "Winter of Vanlenkov", it was a feast prepared for his elite followers. The scenario was set during the clash between Velazi forces and Vanlenkov militia, with moderate difficulty tailored to Alpha-tier players for skill-building without excessive losses.
Players weren't the main characters for several versions, so missions like "infiltrating forbidden zones and extracting supplies" were becoming a staple of Star Abyss gameplay. Li Aozi used these dungeons to train his players for future mainstream challenges.
At the moment, neither dungeon had been attempted, which was regrettable but expected. His White Candle Star players were all at least level 15—either pro gamers, big guild members, or streamers. Of course, prodigies like Caramel Snail were rare; most players were part of organized groups.
After a quick inspection, Li Aozi found the ruins' construction progressing impressively. A scan with the [Eye of Truth] revealed that his territory now spanned 1,800 acres. Although mostly wilderness, the players' efficiency was astonishing.
"Do these people ever log off? Damn, don't they have jobs?"
Li Aozi couldn't help but complain.
With the territory growing, Li Aozi decided it was time to officially establish his base of operations.
Whether White Candle Star would acknowledge him was uncertain, but Li Aozi wasn't about to waste time. Building up his forces was essential to further his ambitions in the Star Abyss.
At the same time, the presence of [Society] citizens lurking on White Candle Star concerned him.
For the foreseeable future, his time would be spent either studying or commuting to class. With Yavanna handling the players, he could fully delegate camp management while monitoring Azure Star remotely through his [Star Echoer] abilities. His influence extended to Abyss Heavy Industries and the Red Arrow territories.
—Naturally, geniuses like Caramel Snail were a particular focus of his cultivation efforts.
"Time to plan out my domain."
Establishing a territory.
In Star Abyss, an expansive game world, every aspect of production and development followed intricate processes. However, players lacked the qualifications to establish autonomous territories early on.
This was because the Qiqiao Network hadn't implemented related systems yet, forcing players to form guilds with makeshift "territories" made of tents and campfires—hardly more secure than an open field.
Armed with the systems of version 14.0, Li Aozi had access to a complete territory-building framework.
But he faced one problem.
As a pure combatant, Li Aozi lacked a "role profession."
Yes, Star Abyss featured role professions.
Roles like [President], [Politician], [General], [Governor], and [Diplomat] not only offered attribute bonuses but also came with dedicated sub-systems for managing their respective fields.
Among role professions, territory management required at least a [Squire] or [Landlord].
These roles not only boosted land productivity but also unlocked the territory management system, allowing Li Aozi to oversee his domain remotely while attending school.
Though [Star Echoer] enabled remote communication, Yavanna wasn't skilled at managing camps. Leaving her in charge would result in chaos. Moreover, Li Aozi needed the system to gauge his situation and cover for his smuggling operations.
That's right—Li Aozi seriously considered becoming a black-market dealer.
From what he remembered, the Galaxy Eye campaign had left both the Night Butterfly Crystal and its rivals severely depleted, with both sides seeking advanced weaponry from the Star Abyss civilizations to tip the scales.
However, lacking diplomatic ties with the Interstellar Alliance, neither faction could find a breakthrough.
Li Aozi's plan was to establish a foreign trade network centered on his ruins' teleport node, gradually expanding his influence.
As the saying goes, "To rise in rank, kill and plunder, then surrender for amnesty." While not literally killing and looting, Li Aozi was more than willing to aid the Crystal Tower in its wartime struggles, positioning himself as a weapons broker in the Star Abyss.
This required player cooperation. His job was logistics; the players would create a peaceful village facade to conceal his business.
Azure Star's players would grow through this process, acclimating to the Star Abyss and its weaponry.
"I'll handle the vision; White Candle Star handles the PR. This way, when Azure Star's players eventually reach space, they'll immediately think, 'Li Aozi has the best gear, the best connections. Follow Brother Li, and you'll eat like a king.'"
Building his camp into a private domain was essential for Li Aozi's plans.
Currently, he had two options.
The first was to purchase land from the nearest government, which would grant him the official authorization to activate the [Homestead] module.
But without even a registered residency, let alone a [Landlord] role, buying land was out of the question.
The second option was to pay up.
After some thought, Li Aozi decided to keep a low profile following his recent escapades in Vanlenkov.
Plus, as an unregistered student with unclear finances, directly purchasing land containing ancient ruins seemed like a tall order.
So, Li Aozi bought a [Pioneer's Permit] from the in-game store and used it on-site.
[You have reclaimed a wasteland. This land and its inhabitants are now your private property.]
[Homestead system unlocked]
[You have full authority over your homestead, including taxation.]
[Use your resources to build a thriving home!]
Opening the camp-building interface, Li Aozi quickly planned roads and facilities for his future territory.
As for the name, it couldn't just remain "The Ruins."
With a flourish of creativity, Li Aozi named the first village of his empire.
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[Homestead Name]: Faithkeep Village
[Type]: Settlement (No unique industries)
[Level]: Level 1 Territory (Fragile)
[System]: Lordship (Taxation decided solely by the lord)
[Leader]: Li Aozi
[Political Group]: Azure Star Immigrants (Single group, +10% work efficiency)
[Group Members]: Yavanna Huskisin, Saga Qi (ID: Caramel Snail), Asakusa Yako (ID: Cumin Powder), etc.
(All Azure Star immigrants are default members of Li Aozi's political group.)
[Industries]: Biochemical Pool, Textile Production, Farmland, Hunting
[Armed Forces]: Villager Hunters (No defensive structures, -50% external prestige)
[Landmark Building]: Ruins Hall (Weekly Sunday morning meetings and evening communal meals)
[Treasury]: 0 (No tax revenue)
[Administrative Points]: 100 (Earned by enacting effective decrees and gaining resident approval/increasing administrative personnel and tax systems.)
[Population]: 27
[Potential Threats]: Goblin Nest, Crystal Bug Cavern, Hidden Underground Ruins (Pending Exploration)
Excessive threats may cause residents to flee.
[Legitimacy]: De facto
[Status]: Unrecognized private territory (Migration attraction -10%)
[Economy]: Impoverished
[Happiness]: 100 (Perfect)
[Evaluation]:
"This place doesn't even have a ditch to drown in. Your people are poor yet hardworking, rarely earning enough to survive. Despite working tirelessly, they are inexplicably happy and fulfilled. Their happiness puzzles outsiders, but everyone is in awe of your leadership."
"Your population is small and homogenous. Food is insufficient, so you must expand and attract more immigrants to improve your territory's status."
"Luckily, you have an excellent seamstress. Her skillful hands and craftsmanship can ignite the textile industry. Expand production, and success is guaranteed."
[Development Suggestions]: Hunting, Textile Production
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"Huh, there's a goblin nest here?"
Li Aozi paused, then grew excited:
"Crystal bug caverns, hidden underground ruins… all unexplored? Could this place have dungeons?"
If true, he could not only be a smuggler but also a mine owner.
"I can't believe my first village is off to such a fantastic start! Let's go!"