Chapter 356

【Not bro, are these nobles really nobles? Each one is too cowardly!】

They say they want to emulate the ancestors' wisdom: first gently widen the road, then sweep it away with force, but the players didn't expect that these little nobles would just lie flat without even resisting.

It's… like the thrill of crossing into the inner world as a newbie and winning before even putting in effort—no sense of accomplishment at all.

Seeing that the players were starting to come after me, I headed toward that mountain's restlessness; the major guilds jointly issued an urgent notice, urging players to restrain themselves and not idle around provoking the nobles.

…

【Indeed, since the lords have already retreated into their own castles, doesn't that mean all the other territories have been abandoned? Those are exactly the places where we can make our move.】

【Right, and regarding taxes that comply with kingdom law, I think we still have to keep paying them. After all, bullying a single noble might go unchecked, but undermining the kingdom's foundation… I don't think we can withstand a backlash right now.】

【So let's develop first; spring is about to start. We need to clear and sow land here. Anyone knowledgeable about agriculture or with high stamina watching? Please get in touch with me.】

As the kingdom's maps gradually unfolded, although the realms are identical in-game—each a sandbox instance with a maximum capacity of one thousand—players accustomed to partitioning everything still devised a uniform division scheme for them.

【The noble birth rankings are freshly released—come see if there's a birth star you like!】

They used the local lords' conduct and tax rates as criteria and released a player-made leaderboard, which includes every noble lord on the current map, including the Duke of Jueqiao Pass.

Those ranked low receive rewards, and players will give them more face—at least they won't be greeted by rotten tomatoes and bad potatoes as soon as they leave the castle, and they might even engage in limited cooperation with players.

Conversely, those ranked high face punishments; challengers built a catapult that can hold a dung sack and, for any reason, fling it into their castles, allowing the lords to enjoy fresh, delicious "snow scenery" daily.

As for exceptionally powerful nobles like the Duke of Jueqiao, who are untouchable and unnecessary to provoke, the High Tower Community steps in to sign various cooperation agreements with him, covering everything from military to commercial matters.

Seeing the players' enthusiasm for developing new maps so high, Ji Ming felt reassured.

Usually these nobles do nothing; it's time to show them what truly means not being human.

After a forum‑browsing stint, the caravan crossed another hill, the heavy snow ceased, the surrounding terrain gradually lowered, and it should be possible to leave this chain of hills that extend from the Shen Lin Wang Guo within the next day or two, stepping onto the most famous great plain of the Hui Guang Kingdom.

Having spent several days as wilderness dwellers, the long‑missing caravan should have re‑established contact with the kingdom, so this time they didn't refuse the local nobles' invitation and turned toward the castle of this earl's domain.

However, their choice to come here wasn't solely for that reason; in fact, the late old earl, who passed away ten years ago, was also a supporter of the Iron Armor Legion. Although he didn't send family members, he did encourage the subjects to enlist and provided material aid.

Moreover, after entering the earl's domain, Ji Ming observed that while the locals certainly didn't dress as decently as those in Jueqiao Pass, compared with the beggar‑like villagers of other territories, they already looked somewhat respectable.

Beyond being a great noble, the earl's lands are larger, transportation more developed, and soil more fertile; moreover, his governance philosophy clearly plays a big role—at least he's willing to give his subjects a way to survive, making him a worthy ally.

Perhaps because Ji Ming is accustomed to observing every place he arrives, or perhaps because, as the Chosen One, he has an acute sensitivity to the Holy Light itself, after passing five villages along the main road he noticed something very odd.

—Why do none of the villages here have the Sheng Guang Jiao Tang's signature tower‑top sphere?

As a doctrine that is moderate, with respectable cultivators—providing soup on odd days, sheltering beggars on even days, possibly spending an extra day on weekends for free healing—and officially recognized by kingdom law as a legitimate large organization, the Sheng Guang Jiao Tang enjoys considerable acceptance in the countryside.

If you compose a little song cursing the lord in a tavern, as long as you don't cause trouble in their capital, most people not only won't report you but will laugh along.

But if you idle away gossiping about the church, anywhere, you may be beaten out as a trouble‑making drunk by the crowd, which is considered a mild handling.

Thus, for many subjects, the greatest hope in life, aside from following the lord into battle and being knighted, is probably "my village can have a Sheng Guang Jiao Tang."

Unfortunately, operating a church requires costs; even just making ends meet is hard, let alone building one in every village, and even if everyone were willing to pawn pots and sell iron, there aren't enough cultivators to staff the grassroots.

Nevertheless, to give everyone a place to pray weekly, the overwhelming majority of villages still erect a sphere symbolizing the Holy Light deity atop the tallest, most luxurious tower in the village.

But there is none here.

After spotting this discrepancy, Ji Ming kept crouching by the window, checking one village after another; yet among all the villages, only one still had a Holy Light sphere, and it looked long neglected, its color extremely dim, the base nearly rotted away.

He paused briefly, then simply halted the carriage and reported his finding to Tenness.

Tenness also fell silent; if Ji Ming's observation is indeed widespread, it shows the Sheng Guang Jiao Tang's influence in this earl's domain is outrageously low.

Yet this area is already near the kingdom's center; when the lord originally co‑supported the Iron Armor Legion, he forged some goodwill with the church, leading to the construction of a fairly grand Sheng Guang Jiao Tang in the capital. That the Sheng Guang Jiao Tang could be so weak here is rather…

"Do the vipers have any connection with you? Could this be an assassination plot they're preparing?"

Ji Ming shook his head.

"The last incident turned Jueqiao Pass into chaos; the Deep Forest's network of relations was almost completely severed. Lately, the Dense Forest Church's stance is to bide its time, waiting until we officially enter the plains before resuming action."

"That makes it a bit strange."

But now leading his own team, he's no soft, pliable fruit to be squashed, so despite his worries Tenness still opted for a conservative approach,

"The plan to head to the earl's capital remains unchanged, but after completing the brief formalities, we'll immediately contact the church to assess the situation."

Indeed, at worst we can flip the table; we can't leave everything to the players. As an excellent game developer, one must lead by example and play with them first.

When the caravan emerged from the forest, the streams beside the path gradually merged into a rushing river.

Just like every Civilization VI player, the first Earl of Wind Shadow, upon being granted this land, built his own Wind Shadow City beside a waterway.

Moreover, unlike the minor nobles who center on their own castles and add semi‑open residential and functional districts outside, Wind Shadow City is a true city.

Although it still feels a bit chilly compared with the layered Sunlight City and the richly functional Jueqiao Pass, the complete city walls make it quite beautiful.

At the city gate stand several soldiers clad in chainmail over a layer of plate armor, looking vigorous—not the kind of cowardly mercenaries who shy from a fight.

But upon seeing the dual insignia of the church and the royal family on the carriage, they quickly welcomed them, smiling broadly and ushering them into the city.

The city's scenery perfectly matches Ji Ming's stereotypical vision of a fantasy world; people of various races bustle about for their own needs, everything appears unusually harmonious, making it a paradise compared to the insect‑run cities outside.

—If Ji Ming hadn't suddenly shivered the moment he entered the city.

Removing the much‑dimmed halo, Ji Ming vaguely sensed a somewhat familiar scent.

"Something feels off…"

Following the main road forward, the end of the road quickly revealed a second city wall.

This wall appears taller and wider than the outer one, and the gate has shifted from a simple mechanical structure to a heavy magical drive.

The caravan entered, and under the guidance of the steward and guards, arrived at an estate.

At the estate's entrance stood a young man in lavish attire, leaning on a decorative staff—presumably this generation's Wind Shadow Earl.

Beside him stood an equally young noblewoman, and a child estimated to be four years old, already dressed respectably like an adult.

"Whoa, still a family of three…"

Before the carriage had fully stopped, the Wind Shadow Earl took his wife's arm and walked a few steps forward, both of them as enthusiastic as any noble's invitation letter written for the caravan.

"Honored guests have finally arrived; welcome everyone to Wind Shadow City!"

And Tenness's response was like that of a long‑unseen elder, beginning with a single sentence.

Ah, time really flies, it's Xiao Lan Ge! I remember when I last saw you, you were only this tall, and now you even have a child.

Since there's no conflict of interest, everyone would be happy in such a setting; this couple also knows how to work the crowd, they'd love to greet everyone in the convoy.

After being thoroughly praised by them as if writing a book, Ailinuo quietly edged up to Ji Ming and whispered.

Their talk sounds pretty nice.

Ji Ming stood in the back row, far away, just nodding his head.

Yeah.

Everyone has worked hard; since we've arrived at Wind Shadow Manor, please rest well—our castle's security is top-notch, we won't disappoint you!

They chatted with each one in turn, finally coming before Ji Ming, looking at the halo atop his head; the smile, stiff from being held too long, blossomed again.

Ah, Divine Chosen Lord, why are you standing so far back? Don't be shy.

Heh, do I want to stand in the back? No, it's because you guys have a smell.

No, no, just that the journey has worn me out; my mind's a bit fuzzy, I need to calm down first.

Ji Ming gave a faint smile, loosening the fingers that had been pinching the black crown in his pocket, his gaze falling on the Count himself, whose scent was richer.

Sheep, is that you?

Still, compared to Ji Ming, a high-intensity trained talent, he's a bit inexperienced, so he easily took back the initiative with just a few words.

Seeing that the assault wasn't making headway, the Countess finally yielded, offering a way out.

All right, didn't the Divine Chosen Lord just say he's feeling unwell? Let's not keep standing out in the wind; let the guests go in first.

Right, right, right, chatting with the Divine Chosen Lord was so fun, I almost forgot this—well, shall we?

「Yes yes yes, chatting with the Divine Selection Sir is so happy, look at me, I almost forgot this matter, then... shall we? 」

Entering the manor villa, the maids and servants bustled about; every window and table was wiped clean, clearly preparing for a high-standard reception.

But unlike the grand banquet earlier that marked their formal return to glory, tonight there's no troublesome social dinner—just a quiet meal.

But upon reaching the second floor of the villa, before a carved walnut double door, the Wind Shadow Count came to and smiled faintly.

This meal is a private dinner; to let everyone relax and enjoy the food, I've made separate arrangements for the convoy—please follow the butler onward.

The oily-haired middle-aged man beside them stepped out at once, making a polite inviting gesture.

The Guardian Knights all looked at Tenisi, and Tenisi had no hesitation.

Since the host has warmly invited us, as guests we have no reason to refuse—let's go.

Haha, I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

The Wind Shadow Count smiled again, and as the servant pushed open the door, he ushered the three guests inside first.

Ailinuo took the chance to get closer to Tenisi, showing a hint of embarrassment and confusion, while Tenisi merely nodded.

Then, after being bitten by a snake, she turned her head to look at Ji Ming, and Ji Ming also nodded.

Then, after being bitten by a snake, she turned her head to look at Ji Ming, and Ji Ming also nodded.

Ailinuo grew anxious, her lips pursed as if saying.

Nod, nod, nod what bird head!

But the Wind Shadow Count followed right after letting them in, so she could only suppress her dissatisfaction and, under the host's arrangement, took her seat in turn.

Now it's Ji Ming's turn to get annoyed—damn it, the youngest again!

I don't know if it's because the Wind Shadow family's upbringing is strict, or because the Count this time brought his wife and kids, but the maids serving aperitifs on trays were dressed so conservatively they looked like they stepped out of an old oil painting on the wall.

After everyone had a glass of vermouth in hand, the Count raised his cup to announce the start of the banquet.

After each person had a glass of vermouth at hand, the Count raised his cup, announcing the start of the banquet.