In these chaotic times, plundering and growing stronger was the true path to power.
All that talk of benevolence and righteousness? Utter nonsense in the face of survival. Especially when the other side couldn't even protect their own villagers anymore—Yi Tianxing felt no guilt about taking them in. This was a hurdle that had to be overcome. Without population, without people, how could a village grow or develop?
Only by becoming stronger could one survive in this savage new era.
Everything else was meaningless.
Yi Tianxing understood this clearly and felt no hesitation. He told himself, Watching those villagers be torn apart by monsters, leaving not even their bones behind—that would be the real cruelty. Hesitation is cruelty.
The path to growth was never glamorous.
Huang Chengyan didn't try to dissuade him either.
In the past, he might have objected, but here in this new world, his worldview had already been flipped on its head. Survival meant becoming stronger. The stronger Xuanhuang Village became, the greater their chances of survival. And population was the key.
Without people, how could there be development?
Plundering, or rather, assimilation, had become the only road forward.
Like the ocean—only by being the big fish could one eat the small ones and survive.
"However, we still don't know exactly where our neighbors are. We'll need to investigate carefully. Though most of this valley is grassland, there are still forests and streams. The dense trees block visibility, so spotting other villages won't be easy. If we move out without a clear direction, we might just waste our efforts," Huang Chengyan said after a moment of thought.
Their current location was near the entrance of the valley, but they hadn't yet explored its interior. While the terrain resembled a wide plain, the forested areas and uneven ground made it difficult to spot other settlements.
Sending soldiers to search could easily mean sending them to their deaths.
"If we're in the same valley, the other village shouldn't be too far. We've been too focused on surviving and fighting off beasts to notice before, but if we think carefully, there should be a way to find them," Yi Tianxing mused.
After thinking for a moment, Huang Chengyan's eyes lit up. "My lord, I might have a way to pinpoint their location."
"Go ahead, Elder Huang," Yi Tianxing said with anticipation.
"If they've established a village, they must cook and make fires. And if they haven't built proper defenses yet, they'll probably light campfires at night—to keep warm and fend off beasts. Villages are usually built in open areas. If we look out carefully at night, we should be able to see the firelight or smoke. That should give us a general direction."
Huang Chengyan quickly shared his thoughts.
"That's a solid plan. Tonight, we'll try it and see if it works," Yi Tianxing nodded. It was indeed the best idea they had right now.
After all, there were no satellites or radars anymore. Every village was isolated, with no means of communication. Finding others was extremely difficult.
"Alright, Elder Huang, let's go to the plaza and integrate the Moonlight Well into the village. With it, the plaza will be bathed in moonlight at night, and the well water can heal injuries and dispel illnesses. It'll be a tremendous boon for our villagers. Even wounded soldiers will recover more quickly," Yi Tianxing said with a smile.
"Such a treasure deserves to be seen in person," Huang Chengyan replied, nodding with a smile.
Aside from the main hall, there was an open plaza specifically reserved for such uses.
They arrived at a patch of empty land. With a flash of light, Yi Tianxing summoned the Moonlight Well—small and exquisite in his hand. He tossed it into the air, where it expanded to a diameter of three meters and then settled onto the ground, seamlessly merging with the earth.
It looked more like a pool than a well.
The outer edge was made of strange snow-white stone, flawless and smooth, as if carved by nature itself. Inside the well, a layer of clear white water shimmered. Floating within was a faint crescent moon, casting a soft, silvery glow.
Naturally, the well absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy, concentrating it into that crescent. This in turn emitted wisps of moonlight, which gradually increased the water level as it condensed from the moon-shaped light.
🟦 New Item: Moonlight Well (月亮井)A mysterious treasure that:
Emits moonlight to relieve fatigue and calm the mind
Produces healing water that cures minor injuries and illness
Will improve as its rank increases, potentially allowing for enhanced regeneration and even longevity in the future
The pale glow spread across the plaza like moonlight, instantly clearing away fatigue. It was truly marvelous.
"Amazing. The Moonlight Well truly lives up to its name. Its moonlight invigorates the spirit, cleanses the soul, and calms the heart. Even the most restless mind can find peace sitting here. A real treasure indeed," Huang Chengyan said with admiration.
"This is just the starting form of the Moonlight Well—it's still only a Yellow-Rank Grade-One treasure. When it levels up, it'll be able to draw moonlight from the sky to form water more quickly. The water's healing powers will become stronger. Right now, it can only treat simple wounds and minor ailments, but one day it might even extend life," Yi Tianxing explained.
From the moment the well was integrated into the village, he had clearly sensed its power. For Xuanhuang Village, it was a game-changer. With medicine and herbs still scarce, this well would save countless lives.
Doctors Qiu and Wang, despite their skills, had often been helpless due to the lack of medicinal herbs. Their only tool had been acupuncture.
Now, the Moonlight Well gave them new hope. The villagers would feel more secure, and their trust in the village would grow stronger.
"What's this? Looks like something the Village Chief created. Another divine miracle?""There's a little crescent moon inside the well… this moonlight feels amazing on my skin.""My injuries don't hurt as much anymore… what a miracle.""This well is beautiful! I've never seen anything like it!"
One by one, the villagers gathered around the new structure in the plaza, marveling at its beauty and the soothing energy it radiated.
"Everyone," Yi Tianxing said with a smile, "this well is called the Moonlight Well. Its water can heal injuries and soothe fatigue. If you're hurt in battle, come draw from it to recover. But remember—its water is precious and takes time to regenerate. Don't waste it."
"Thank you, Chief!" the villagers cheered, joy spreading across their faces.
"This is amazing. We finally have something to treat the wounded. Watching our soldiers bleed and suffer without medicine broke my heart," said Doctor Qiu, visibly emotional.
"Yes! With this well, more of our warriors will survive each battle. This is a true treasure," Doctor Wang added, trembling with joy.
Yi Tianxing didn't linger. He turned and walked into the nearby Scripture Pavilion.
Inside, he waved his hand, and dozens of combat techniques and cultivation manuals appeared before him.
With a flash of white light, the texts were automatically sorted—those suited for the Divine Sea Realm were placed on the first floor, while higher-level manuals floated up to the upper levels.
Empty jade shelves filled with new books. The Scripture Pavilion's collection had grown richer, offering more variety for villagers to choose from.
The village's foundation had grown even stronger. One day, the pavilion alone would be enough to attract droves of talent.
"Bestow me with the inheritance of the Jade-Shattering Spear Technique," Yi Tianxing commanded.
At his words, a beam of light shot from a jade bookshelf and entered his mind. There, a white jade book formed, titled Jade-Shattering Spear Technique.
🟦 New Technique: Jade-Shattering Spear Technique (碎玉矛法)Grade: Profound-Rank, Top-TierDescription: A high-level martial technique focused on spear combat. When mastered, it dramatically enhances the user's battlefield capabilities.
There are two paths for cultivators—one is to focus on martial techniques and comprehend martial truths to become unmatched in physical combat. The other is to develop inner divine abilities through opened Life Orifices, unleashing supernatural powers.
Some choose to cultivate both paths simultaneously.
Yi Tianxing now immersed himself in the mental realm, the jade book opening naturally—within, a vivid scroll began to unfold before his mind's eye...