Zhou Yan stands before the Ice Tower, its crystalline form gleaming. Upgrading it demands one-star water crystal cores, abundant from Water Polo Beast kills. Though cores have other uses, tower strength takes priority.
[Territory Prompt: "Consumed 30,000 spirit coins, 10 one-star water crystal cores, Ice Tower raised to level 21."]
[Territory Prompt: "Consumed 35,000 spirit coins, 20 one-star water crystal cores, Ice Tower raised to level 22."]
…
[Territory Prompt: "Insufficient materials, Ice Tower cannot be upgraded."]
At level 30, requirements shift to two-star cores. The tower's attributes surge:
[Building: Ice Tower]
[Level: 30]
[Upgrade Requirements: 100,000 spirit coins, 100 two-star water crystal cores]
[Quality: SSS (0/3)]
[Next Upgrade: Three Ice Towers]
[Defense: 60,000/60,000]
[Attributes: Ice attacks on enemies in range; Ice Spike every 90 minutes; Ice Rain every two hours.]
[Introduction: Ice falls, enemies perish.]
Ice Spike's cooldown drops by 30 minutes, and Ice Rain, a new ranged attack, awaits tomorrow's test. Upgrades grow costlier—rare materials and spirit coins mount.
With ample buildings, Zhou Yan upgrades Heavenly Court:
[Territory Prompt: "Territory upgraded to level 11."]
…
[Territory Prompt: "Consumed 100,000 spirit coins, territory upgraded to level 21."]
[Territory: Heavenly Court (Diaochan · Hidden)]
[Lord: Zhou Yan]
[Quality: White (Colorful · Hidden)]
[Talent: Special Items +21%]
[Level: 21]
[Upgrade Requirements: 22 level 22 buildings, 110 population, 200,000 spirit coins]
[Area: 33,000 square meters]
[Attributes: Human attributes +26%; race attributes +21%; building attributes +10%]
[Buildings: 21]
[Population: 113]
Level 21 boosts attributes, but no hidden quest emerges, dashing Zhou Yan's hopes. A new building attribute bonus (+10%) appears, likely a decennial perk. Post-level 20, upgrades demand spirit coins—100,000 for level 21, 200,000 for 22. Future costs loom large.
Trial-stage rare materials are pricy, so Zhou Yan skips them. His buildings suffice for now. He sweeps the International Trading Hall's ore, ensuring dwarf supplies.
Checking messages, he finds one from Hegemon of the World, hours old: "Need silver gear. Short on three-star ore—can I use one- or two-star?"
Zhou Yan replies, "Possible, but three-star's rarer. Your offer?"
"Twelve two-star for one three-star," Hegemon responds.
Generous—Lord Continent's cap is ten. "Deal. How many pieces?" Zhou Yan asks.
"Ten defensive sets," Hegemon says.
Zhou Yan bristles. "Defensive gear's tougher to forge than weapons, and full sets? My territory's got barely a dozen, and I'm not trading those."
"Single pieces then," Hegemon concedes. "How many?"
"Ten silver pieces, mostly weapons. Want twenty weapons instead?"
"Weapons work," Hegemon agrees.
They trade—Zhou Yan gains heaps of ore. Hegemon's mine-adjacent territory fuels his wealth, but Zhou Yan suspects others hide similar luck.
Next, Little Cutie messages: "My team found odd seeds in the bamboo forest. Interested?"
"Show me," Zhou Yan replies, curious.
She sends a trade request, revealing:
[Item: Spirit Bamboo Seed]
[Quality: One-Star]
[Introduction: Plantable only in Spirit Fields.]
Simple, but valuable. Spirit Bamboo could yield rare resources in Heavenly Court's fields.