The majestic tower exuded a profound sense of security.
"How wondrous," murmured Huang Chengyan. Even though he had previously witnessed the birth of Xuanhuang Village, he still found himself amazed. Incredible… he thought. Old ways of thinking and perception truly need to change. One must embrace the new, or risk being left behind in this era.
The two arrow towers provided Xuanhuang Village with an undeniable sense of protection.
Indeed, many of the villagers gazed at the towers with newfound calm in their eyes. The panic caused by the Windwing Drake had largely subsided, or at least wasn't as overpowering as before.
"Village Chief, let us bandage your wounds."
Two elderly physicians, who had tended to Yi Tianxing while he was unconscious, approached swiftly with medicine kits on their backs. One of them took out a bottle of golden wound salve and poured it onto his wound.
"Thank you, doctors. May I ask your esteemed names?" Yi Tianxing sat on a large boulder, allowing them to treat him. At the moment, he had no ability to accelerate his healing. While Chen Xuerou could treat injuries, she wasn't around. Looking at the two elderly men, he asked in a warm tone.
In chaotic times like these, doctors were priceless.
"No need for such formality, Village Chief. My surname is Qiu, Qiu Weiming," said the white-haired old man with a gentle smile.
"I'm Wang Fengshan," said the other quickly.
As they spoke, they skillfully bandaged Yi Tianxing's wound. Though injured, he was still a cultivator and could control his muscles to slow the bleeding. With the medicine applied, the bandaging process was fast.
"So it's Elder Qiu and Elder Wang. With your noble hearts and skills, I'd like to ask you both to establish a medical hall in the village to help the people. However, since Xuanhuang Village is newly founded, we can only provide some herbs for now and cannot offer any payment." Yi Tianxing explained earnestly.
"No need to worry about compensation, Village Chief," Qiu Weiming replied cheerfully. "You built Xuanhuang Village, giving us a place to live in peace. In these troubled times, just being alive is a blessing. Money is useless now. What little skill we possess in medicine is all we can offer. Once the medical hall is built, we'll take up residence and begin our work."
Their sincerity was unmistakable. Right now, contributing their skills to help build Xuanhuang Village was the most meaningful thing they could do. Besides, food was shared communally—no one would go hungry.
And having a medical hall would also raise their social standing. They understood that clearly.
With the bandaging completed, the two doctors moved on to help treat the other injured villagers. The dead were also being collected, casting a somber mood over the area.
"Everyone!" Yi Tianxing called out, drawing everyone's attention.
"Among you, is there anyone who is literate—who can read and write?"
Relying on Huang Chengyan alone clearly wasn't enough to efficiently manage and plan for the entire village. To build a fully functioning society, more capable individuals were needed—even those with just a single useful skill.
"Village Chief, I have studied the classics and once passed the scholar exam," a gaunt man in a patched robe stepped forward. Despite his shabby appearance, he exuded the air of a learned man—clearly a poor scholar from a humble background.
Yi Tianxing studied him for a moment, then nodded. "And your name, sir?"
"I wouldn't dare call myself 'sir'. My name is Jia—Jia Yucun," he replied with a bow.
"Very well. Follow Elder Huang and assist in registering all villagers and compiling a census," Yi Tianxing instructed.
Population control was critical. The earlier this was done, the easier it would be to manage growth in the future.
Jia Yucun's eyes gleamed with excitement. This was a golden opportunity to impress the Village Chief and earn his favor—perhaps even a path to greatness. He immediately bowed and replied, "I'll ensure the records are accurate and present them to you once completed."
"Fellow villagers, Xuanhuang Village is our shared home. We may face monster attacks at any moment. This is our home, and I hope everyone will do their part to protect it. Our military force needs to expand. I invite able-bodied young men to enlist."
"Joining the military will grant access to cultivation methods and combat techniques. You'll gain the strength to protect yourselves and the village."
"Even if you don't enlist, you can still cultivate. In these chaotic times, strength is survival."
"I will establish a Scripture Pavilion, where I've gathered a collection of cultivation manuals. As long as you're a villager of Xuanhuang, you may enter and choose one cultivation manual and one martial technique for free. To acquire more advanced techniques, you'll have to earn merit and contribute."
"I want everyone in this village to become a cultivator, to fight for their own survival."
"We were once commoners—oppressed by noble clans, crushed by the imperial court, and exploited by the elite. But now, in the Eternal Continent, at least for now, there are no nobles, no imperial rule—only equality. This is the worst of times, with beasts everywhere and death ever-present. But it is also the best of times—an era of equal opportunity, where anyone can rise."
His words struck like hammers against everyone's hearts, sparking ambitions and fighting spirit where there had once been despair.
In a fair world, who feared whom? Maybe they could become the great ones they once admired.
"Those wishing to enlist, report to Wang Dahu. Jia Yucun, assist in the registration. Soldiers will be entered into the military registry."
Having said that, Yi Tianxing turned and walked back toward the manor.
So long as he was present, people felt uneasy. It was better to give them space.
Beside the manor was a large open area.
With a wave of his hand, a Scripture Pavilion appeared. Though it looked small and refined, it had nine stories and was made of crystal-glass material, shimmering like natural jade. Engraved across the tower were ancient characters reading: Scripture Pavilion.
This was one of the rare treasures he had obtained earlier. Though it held no offensive power, it could store vast amounts of scriptures and techniques.
It might appear unassuming, but the Scripture Pavilion was the core foundation of any great power.
With a single drop of blood, he infused it with his essence and formed a spiritual connection.
With a thought, the pavilion floated up and hovered in mid-air before rapidly expanding.
In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a towering crystal pagoda, standing beside the manor and radiating divine brilliance in the sunlight.
It descended gently, merging seamlessly with the ground—no cracks, no signs of placement. It looked as though it had grown from the earth itself.
The villagers watched the scene unfold with awe. Only Yi Tianxing could create such miracles.
Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing walked up the glowing stairs and entered the Scripture Pavilion.
"There's a spiritual consciousness within… seems like the pavilion's own spirit hasn't fully awakened yet."
He sensed a faint presence inside—something quietly slumbering deep within. The spirit of the Scripture Pavilion. He wasn't concerned; it would only make the structure more powerful in the future.
Inside, rows upon rows of shelves greeted him.
White jade bookshelves lined the pavilion. For now, they were all empty.
"The first floor will store scriptures for the Spirit Sea Realm. The second floor will hold those for the Aperture Opening Realm."
With that, Yi Tianxing began placing manuals he had collected:
"Sitting Forgetfulness Sutra",
"Basic Blade Technique",
"Basic Sword Technique",
"Basic Spear Technique",
"Blood Spring",
"Wave-Crashing Blade Technique",
"Longevity Art",
"Pure Origin Technique",
"Iron-Blood Fiend Qi",
"Blood War Blade Technique",
"True Loyalty Heart Record",
"Water-Splitting Sword Codex",
"High Mountains and Flowing Water",
"Deep Blue Meditation Method",
"Heavenly Soldier Manual",
"Heavenly General Manual",
"Nine-Rank Divine General Scripture",
"Basic Rune Scripture".
These were all gathered during the Great Cataclysm, from plundered treasures or seized from the sky during the chaos. Some were profound, others basic, but to the average person, any of these could change a life.
Whoosh!
A white glow radiated from the Scripture Pavilion and enveloped all the manuals. Then, like birds returning to roost, the jade books flew into their designated spots.
Each bookshelf held eighty-one slots, and every slot contained a single jade scroll. A transparent barrier sealed each one, with a glowing description of the technique floating above it.