Chapter 4: Initial House

The initial base has been successfully established. From now on, you own this land.

At the very instant the setup succeeded, the Sea of Suffering Path, which had already been about to spread into the valley, suddenly stopped. The dense black aura was blocked by an invisible barrier and could not advance another inch. The dark fog that had originally shrouded the sky above the entire valley was also dispersed, revealing the twilight sky before their eyes.

Chi Yixuan’s gaze remained fixed tightly on the Sea of Suffering Path.

Although he had confidence in his own game, this was, after all, a different world. What if something went wrong?

If the evil aura broke through the base’s barrier and rushed in… by then, he would be powerless to help. He could only abandon everyone in the valley and run.

Fortunately, the base’s invisible barrier successfully blocked the Sea of Suffering Path.

The dense black aura churned in place unwillingly for a while before finally retreating, reluctant and resentful. It was just that the original mountain wall did not recover. A long, narrow passage remained where it had been. If one looked carefully, one would find that it was like an abyss, with not a single trace of light shining through.

Chi Yixuan finally let out a breath of relief.

He said to the life-bound artifact, “I don’t know why, but just now, I felt like the Sea of Suffering Path was like a small animal throwing a powerless tantrum from behind a glass window.”

The life-bound artifact replied: Is that description because you are inside the base and do not need to worry about your personal safety?

Chi Yixuan vaguely felt that was not it, but that also seemed to be the only explanation that made sense. Just imagine, running into a big cat in the wild versus seeing a big cat in a zoo. Could the state of mind possibly be the same?

Unlike Chi Yixuan’s relaxed mood at this moment, the others in the valley looked at him with fear in their eyes.

First, the two managers who had been sharpening their knives and ready to strike were gone. Then even the dark fog of the Sea of Suffering Path had retreated. They did not understand what the person before them had done, but their instinct to seek benefit and avoid harm told them that this person was someone even more terrifying than the managers, perhaps even more terrifying than the Sea of Suffering Path.

Therefore, even though the barrier stopping them was gone, the menial workers still did not dare leave without permission. They all huddled to the side and looked in unison at the knife-wielding young man who had previously led the resistance.

The knife-wielding young man’s expression was hesitant as well. He wanted to go forward, but he seemed to have some misgivings.

Chi Yixuan, however, had no time right now to take care of their feelings. His eyes had lit up, and only three words kept scrolling through his mind: I’m rich, I’m rich, I’m rich!!!

As everyone knew, in a game, anything with a red health bar, anything that could be fought, no matter whether it was human-shaped or some other shape, was universally called a monster. And killing monsters meant drops.

Although Chi Yixuan had not lifted a hand the entire time, the Shadow Guard who had sent the two managers flying had been summoned with his skill. That was equivalent to him having defeated them. After those two were swallowed by the Sea of Suffering Path, the equipment on them was not taken into the Sea of Suffering along with them. Instead, it flew into Chi Yixuan’s hands. Of course, that also included the seal magic artifact used to block the valley’s entrance and exit.

The game panel’s inventory function also automatically opened, sorting this harvest by category and placing everything into the inventory slots.

These items were, respectively, two glowing whips, a seal, two money pouches, two tokens, and some spirit stones and medicinal pills.

At the same time, his experience points were finally no longer a big fat zero. They went from 0 to 200.

The life-bound artifact explained: Your cultivation method is different from that of the people in this world. You level up using points. Methods of obtaining points are not limited to expanding territory and increasing the number of subjects. They also include killing enemies.

According to the algorithm, one Qi Refining cultivator can provide you with one hundred points.

Chi Yixuan gave a wow and asked, “Then what cultivation level am I at now?”

The life-bound artifact replied: If you extract the points now, your cultivation can reach the first layer of Qi Refining.

Chi Yixuan could not believe it. “Weren’t those two managers at the fourth layer of Qi Refining?” After summoning the Shadow Guard, he had discovered that while the Shadow Guard existed, he could briefly share the Shadow Guard’s divine sense perception, which was equivalent to temporarily possessing the vision of someone in the Foundation Establishment stage. Naturally, he could tell the cultivation level of those two managers.

He had not expected that two fourth-layer Qi Refining cultivators would actually only contribute enough experience points for him to reach the first layer of Qi Refining!

At that moment, his shock was silent yet deafening.

After the life-bound artifact learned what he was thinking, it stayed silent for a long time, perhaps because it had no words to respond with. Only after a moment did it say: The initial base has already been set. Night is about to fall. Please establish the initial house, Your Majesty, and rest as soon as possible to recover your strength.

With the life-bound artifact’s reminder, Chi Yixuan finally realized that his stomach had gone so flat it was practically a sheet of paper. Just how long had the original body gone without eating?

For the sake of playability, games would do their best to create a realistic experience for players, but they could not make it completely realistic. Otherwise, it would not be playing a game; it would be doing hard labor. Therefore, in the gameplay settings of Imperial Dynasty Builder Simulator, one feature was that after establishing a base, the system would gift the player a house.

And the game’s localization had still very humanely retained this feature.

Chi Yixuan praised it without stinginess. “Wonderful!”

The life-bound artifact paused, then slowly said: Thank you for Your Majesty’s gracious favor.

Chi Yixuan: …

Forget it. If only he was chuunibyou, that was one thing. If both of them joined in, then it was youth.

The initial house gifted by the system naturally could not possibly be very impressive. From the blueprint, it was just a small, square wooden cabin. Even the roof was covered in thatch, and inside there was only beginner furniture like a table and a bed. It merely satisfied the player’s need to rest at night and guard against wild monsters.

But when Chi Yixuan was about to build the initial house, the life-bound artifact spoke again.

It is recommended that you use points to purchase the upgraded house.

When Chi Yixuan heard this, he subconsciously covered the position of his wallet, even though that spot was currently empty. But very quickly, he realized that this was not truly playing a game right now, and the life-bound artifact’s suggestion was not some unscrupulous game planner trying to scam him out of money. There was a certain necessity to it.

Sure enough, the life-bound artifact soon explained: People respect fine clothes, not the person beneath them. Although this saying is very worldly, it is generally very useful. Your Majesty, you just resolved the problem of the Sea of Suffering Path, saved everyone in this valley, and displayed sufficient strength. Right now, they all greatly revere you. But you need subjects, so you also need their yearning.

Chi Yixuan was not stupid. The life-bound artifact’s explanation made him understand instantly.

Right! He was not testing his own game now. He was truly in a real world! The NPCs in a game would not have any opinions about the player’s behavior, but every person in this valley had eyes and a brain. If he wanted them to sincerely join his faction, then besides displaying martial force, he also had to display financial power.

At the very least, he had to make them think the boss was rich, and that following the boss meant they could get some meat to eat! If they saw that their future boss could only live in a thatched hut, what would they think?

Strong, sure, but so poor. If we follow him, we probably won’t even get a sip of soup, right?

I absolutely cannot let anyone discover I’m broke!

For the sake of this goal, Chi Yixuan endured the pain and spent one hundred points to purchase the upgraded house. The moment the money was spent, his heart dripped blood.

At the other end of the valley, the knife-wielding young man hesitated for quite a while before finally mustering his courage and walking toward that powerful figure. However, after taking only two steps, he froze, and a look of shock appeared on his honest face.

He saw that powerful figure raise his hand and point. A speck of golden light suddenly shimmered on the flat ground. Then, in the blink of an eye, that golden light fell to the earth, growing from small to large, transforming into a residence!

Blue glazed tiles, snow-white brick walls, a vermilion gate, glazed lamps beneath the eaves… Inside the walls, there was even a garden. A branch of apricot blossoms reached over the top of the wall, as though its fragrance drifted over from afar.

It was not only the knife-wielding young man. All the menial workers behind him were dumbfounded.

Although they were all menial workers, they considered themselves to have at least a bit of common sense. Even if they had never eaten pork, they had still seen pigs run. This kind of house that could change at will was a specially refined magic treasure. It could be carried around, and they had heard it even came with its own barrier. Legend had it that only great experts above the Golden Core stage could control one. This person before them… could it be that he was…

They did not dare think further. The timid ones had already gone weak in the knees and knelt on the ground.

…

Although Chi Yixuan’s heart ached when he spent the money, when he saw this beautiful house, he truly felt moved.

No matter how gorgeous buildings were in a game, they were only strings of data. But putting them into reality felt completely different.

He walked into the house and found that although the residence was not very large, it had everything necessary. Upon entering through the main gate, there was a small garden. Between the main hall and the small garden, an artificial hill and flowing water blocked the line of sight.

He turned into the main hall from the side corridor and found that the outer area was for receiving guests. Further inside was the master bedroom, complete with furniture, and further in still was the bathroom.

All kinds of furnishings looked antique and elegant, but they were not inconvenient to use in any way.

“The only pity is that there’s no kitchen.”

The life-bound artifact sounded curious: You know how to cook?

Chi Yixuan said, “I am merely untalented—a kitchen killer, that’s all.”

The life-bound artifact: …

When Chi Yixuan saw the bathroom, his whole body began to itch. He thought to himself, Just how long had the original body gone without bathing? Then he swiftly jumped into the bathroom and scrubbed himself clean. After washing his hair, he carefully checked the water and the towel. Only after discovering there were no lice did he let out a breath of relief.

Before he had even left the bathroom after washing, he suddenly cried out, “Help!”

The life-bound artifact replied: What happened to you? Hurry and summon the Shadow Guard!

Chi Yixuan collapsed by the wall, his voice mournful. “There’s actually no toilet!”

The life-bound artifact: …

In the bathroom, Chi Yixuan was filled with regret. “Why? Back when we were planning the game, why didn’t I supervise the art modeling team and make them add a toilet? Why!” A person had to understand that in a house, the number-one basic need was a toilet!

The life-bound artifact replied: …I do not know whether you have noticed, but not only yours, the cages of the other human livestock also had no filth of any kind.

“Huh?” Chi Yixuan froze. He supported himself against the wall and stood up, then asked in confusion, “Oh, right. This is a cultivation world. They should have some way to solve this. How did I not think of that?” It seemed he still had not adapted to the change in worlds.

The life-bound artifact’s voice seemed to carry a hint of helplessness: If you are hungry, please open your inventory. Inside are fasting pills obtained from the managers.

Chi Yixuan chewed a fasting pill. His shriveled stomach slowly gained a feeling of fullness, and his physical strength gradually filled back up. He muttered, “Fasting pills have no flavor at all. What should I do if I want to eat delicious food?”

If you consume this world’s impurity-free spiritual food, then you will not have this worry. If you consume ordinary food, you can take a food-transformation pill to resolve it.

Chi Yixuan wowed. “You can eat whatever you want without needing to go to the bathroom? That’s awesome! If there were a product like that on Earth, it would absolutely sell like crazy!” At the mention of his hometown, his excited expression faded. “I wonder if I can still go back…”

The life-bound artifact suddenly said: The menial worker who led the resistance is here.

Chi Yixuan’s spirits lifted. “Come on, let’s arrange the interview!”

…

Outside, the knife-wielding young man discovered that before he had even drawn near, the door had opened. His spirits lifted as well.

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