https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-280-The-Mysterious-Merchant-Summoning-Charm/13031125/
Chapter 279: Five Blueprints
Chapter 279: Five Blueprints
September 25, 2017
In just ten days, the Elite Guard Camp successfully advanced to become an Elite Troop.
This achievement may give the impression that cultivating Elite-level troops isn't that challenging after all.
In reality, it's quite the opposite. Cultivating Elite-level troops is extremely difficult. Lu HaiKong was only able to achieve this feat within ten days by relentlessly grinding at all the monster-hunting spots in Qiang Yin County, with the help of Pan Feng.
Even with Pan Feng's presence, replicating this success is possible, but if limited to Qiang Yin County, the cycle would be significantly longer, requiring at least three months to repeat.
Expanding the area beyond Qiang Yin County doesn't shorten the cycle by much either.
The cultivation of Elite Bandit Guards is constrained by two factors: the availability of suitable grinding spots and the speed of bandit recruitment.
Currently, Lu HaiKong's Bandit Camp can recruit five Bandit Elite Guards per day, and they must be recruited on the same day, meaning only 450 can be recruited in a month.
This number is already substantial, and these troops can be used for cultivation. However, leading a 450-person team to grind in unfamiliar territories is no easy task, and they may not be able to conquer a large bandit fort.
Considering these factors, the most practical and feasible option for Lu HaiKong is to continue grinding along the same route, which will lock the cycle to three months. If there were more nearby bandit forts, it would be ideal, and this is the first time Lu HaiKong has had such an expectation.
Regardless, Lu HaiKong's journey has come to a perfect conclusion. Not only did the Elite Guard Camp advance to become an Elite Troop, but they also formed a battalion, successfully achieving one of Lu HaiKong's two primary goals.
In addition to troop advancement, Lu HaiKong's other objective also proceeded smoothly.
During his ten-day expedition, Lu HaiKong eradicated dozens of small bandit forts, eleven medium-sized forts, and one large fort.
The troops following him cleaned up and collected a substantial amount of resources, and among these, Lu HaiKong acquired several valuable items.
Perhaps to compensate for Lu HaiKong's prolonged absence, or due to the low drop rate of the Fire Word Regiment, this trip proved to be exceptionally lucrative.
Lu HaiKong obtained five blueprints, three for equipment and two for construction.
Savage Wolf Saber (Broadsword)
Equipment Grade: Common
Forging Requirement: Intermediate Blacksmith
Galewind Saber (Large Guandao)
Equipment Grade: Common
Forging Requirement: Intermediate Blacksmith
Light Iron Shield
Equipment Grade: Common
Forging Requirement: Intermediate Blacksmith
These three equipment blueprints are not of high grade, all at the Common level.
However, don't underestimate Common-grade equipment. Remember that the Light Cloud Set is also Common-grade, and purchasing these items from Old Man Wang would cost at least 50 gold, making them quite pricey.
Though the price is steep, the equipment is well worth the investment.
If the Elite Guard had been equipped with the 'Wolf Fang Saber' and the 'Light Iron Shield' during their initial confrontation with the Tomb Guardian Army, they might have still faced defeat, but at least they would have had a fighting chance and wouldn't have been so easily slaughtered.
Another point to consider is that although these pieces of equipment seem to be on par with the 'Light Cloud Crossbow' and the 'Light Cloud Armor', their craftsmanship is relatively simpler. With the current productivity of the Blacksmith Camp, they could easily produce fifty 'Wolf Fang Sabers' or 'Galewind Blades' in a day, and for the 'Light Iron Shield', which has an even simpler production process, they could achieve a daily output of 100.
Undoubtedly, this would greatly accelerate the process of arming the mountain bandit army.
In addition to these three equipment blueprints, Lu HaiKong also obtained two construction blueprints when conquering eight medium-sized bandit forts.
Wine Cellar Construction Plan:
Building Type: Lifestyle
Building Effect: Can be used to store fine wines, and the flavor of the wine stored here will improve over time.
Building Requirement: 10,000 Gold / Self-Construction
[Editor's Note: This is the correct version of the text.]
Tavern Construction Plan:
Building Type: Commercial Service
Building Effect: Has a certain chance to attract wandering martial artists or technical talents.
Building Requirement: 20,000 Gold / Self-Construction
As Lu HaiKong looked at these two blueprints, his mind wandered.
Both of these buildings were not present in the mountain fort, and they would undoubtedly have a positive impact on its development.
Of course, the most important of the two blueprints is the tavern, which, as mentioned, can attract martial artists and technical talents, an effect that is inherently appealing. More importantly, the tavern is also a necessary establishment for the mountain fort.
Lu HaiKong's mountain fort has been established for over half a year, and if it had been built just recently, or even a few months ago, he might not have felt anything special upon seeing the tavern blueprint, perhaps just a fleeting moment of joy at having an additional channel to recruit talents.
But now, as he looks at this tavern blueprint, Lu HaiKong can't help but feel a sense of pride welling up inside him.
The economy of the mountain fort has gradually improved over the past few months, and many of the common folk now have some spare money in their pockets. Slowly, they are beginning to seek material comforts and spiritual solace, and the appearance of a tavern will undoubtedly be very popular.
As the master of the mountain fort, Lu HaiKong has realized that managing a city is not as difficult as he thought, at least not for Wang Jun and his team. A city with a population of less than forty thousand is something that Zhang Wei could probably manage with ease, but Lu HaiKong's mountain fort is different.
It is not a pre-existing city but a creation forged by Lu HaiKong and his team from scratch.
The most challenging part is going from nothing to something, and Lu HaiKong's task is to gather a large number of people who have lost their homes, families, and perhaps even their faith or innocence in the process of wandering, and to keep them together without scattering. The difficulty of building this mountain fort from the ground up is unimaginable.
This mountain fort embodies the blood, sweat, and tears of Lu HaiKong and Wang Jun. The effort they have put into developing the fort to its current state is beyond what ordinary people can fathom.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
