I built a safe house in the eerie night.

The blazing sun, unusually generous, shone brightly on this land, dispelling the chill.

The morning light illuminated the eerie piles of corpses outside the village, making them exceptionally clear and chilling.

The scene of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, a scene of purgatory, was shocking and appalling.

The bone barricades, buried under layers of corpses, had a few bone spikes at the very top piercing through the dark red flesh, exposing them to the sunlight and gleaming with a chilling light.

The five towering bone arrow towers, though still bearing the strange splatter of black blood and bits of flesh, were completely intact.

Standing tall in the morning light, like the most loyal guardians, they firmly protect the village and watch over the deep mountains ahead, their mission unfinished.

Jiang Ning stood in the village and began assigning tasks for the new day.

"Uncle Fu, Uncle Meng, you should lead the team to Xishan to continue collecting Tai Sui. No matter how much we can dig up, every little bit is a precious resource."

"Also, pay close attention to your surroundings and see if there are any other useful things or unusual situations."

"Understood, young master!"

The two responded in unison, their expressions solemn.

Jiang Ning turned his gaze to Yu Niu, Er Hu, and the other young men who had fought alongside him the previous night.

"Your primary task in staying in the village is to clean up these remains and carefully search for anything else."

"yes!"

The young men spoke loudly and energetically, their eyes showing no fear of the corpses, only fervor.

After last night's resounding victory in the defensive battle, the villagers' admiration and trust in Jiangning reached its peak.

It wasn't just awe of his abilities, but also a heartfelt recognition and trust, a willingness to entrust one's life and fortune to him without any ulterior motives.

As the collection team set off, they passed by Yu Niu.

Almost everyone stopped to pat him on the shoulder, or cast approving, grateful, or even envious glances at him.

"Good lad! He's got a guy!"

"My heart was pounding last night! Well done!"

"I never realized you were so brave, Ah Niu!"

This previously unknown boy, who always followed behind his uncle, became a hero in the eyes of the entire village overnight.

Xiong Meng walked over and patted Yu Niu on the shoulder with his rough, large hand, causing the boy to stumble, but he still grinned foolishly.

"You're something else, kid! I'm impressed!"

Envy and a barely perceptible sense of shame were evident in Xiong Meng's eyes.

"I have to learn from you..."

He recalled how he had tried to rush out of the room several times last night, but seeing the fearful and worried looks in his wife and daughter's eyes behind him, he ultimately suppressed that impulse.

Although no one would blame him, he always felt in his heart that he had let down the village and Jiangning.

He admired Yu Niu's fearlessness and respected his courage and sense of responsibility.

Of course, he also learned that if there is a next time, Xiong Meng will stand up without hesitation.

Yu Niu was embarrassed by all the praise, and his body swayed from time to time as he was patted.

But his gaze remained fixed on Jiang Ning's tall, upright figure ahead, and on the rising, radiant sun on the horizon.

He, Yu Niu, finally lived out the life he had only ever dared to imagine.

He finally gained recognition!

But this is not the end.

Next time, every time, as long as the village needs him, as long as Young Master Jiang Ning needs him, he will still stand up without hesitation, until he burns himself out, until he dies in battle!

However, his uncle left the village and couldn't see him in his current state.

The boy felt a little regret, but he quickly put it aside, smiled, and like a moth drawn to the light, rushed into the bright morning light, joining the other young people as they headed towards the cleared battlefield of corpses.

Jiang Ning walked alone to a bone arrow tower and reached out to touch its rough surface.

There were still strange, filthy bloodstains on it, and even some bits of flesh stuck to it.

The role of the arrow tower is undeniable; it is currently the village's most crucial and powerful offensive weapon.

Without these arrow towers, it would have been impossible to defend the area.

However, relying solely on arrow towers is by no means a long-term solution.

Although the attack is strong, it seems to be mainly aimed at monsters that have not yet reached the next level. Once a first-level monster attacks, will the arrow tower still be able to effectively kill it?

Even, can it be stopped?

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning frowned slightly.

You must upgrade your arrow towers as soon as possible, or find a blueprint for a more powerful attack building.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to truly take root and develop in the strange and treacherous Changyin Mountain.

He looked at the dim altar.

What will happen after the altar goes out? What dangers will the village, now without protection, be exposed to?

Everything is unknown, and this unknown itself is the greatest fear.

We need to hurry...

Jiang Ning muttered to himself, his gaze shifting to the mountain of corpses outside the village, a burning heat rising in his heart.

"Last night's haul...it's definitely going to be a huge success! There must be at least a dozen lucky bags and hundreds of blueprints, right?"

Of course, this is an exaggerated fantasy.

However, the harvest will inevitably be enormous.

After today, the village's defenses and overall strength will double.

Just then, an excited shout suddenly came from the direction of the young men clearing the pile of corpses:

"Young Master Jiang, come quick! There's something! There are beads!"

Upon hearing the sound, Jiang Ning turned around instantly, his eyes widening like a wolf that hadn't eaten for days seeing meat, and he exclaimed in surprise:

"Where? Where is it!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already moved with lightning speed, rushing towards the direction from which the sound came.

His eager and greedy manner drew a burst of cheerful laughter from the villagers.

......

at the same time.

On the other side, in Qingniu Village.

Liu Guan stood with his hands on his hips in an open space in the village, holding a leather whip in his hand, his face full of impatience, shouting at a group of numb-looking, ragged villagers.

"What are you all standing there for? Get out there and get to work! Anyone who dares to slack off will never get a guarantee from the Liu family. You'll all be sent to die outside the city, a bunch of worthless bastards!"

The villagers lowered their heads, their eyes vacant, daring not to resist in the slightest. They simply picked up their tools and staggered out of the village.

They have endured for far too long for that seemingly unattainable residency status, for that supposedly safe and secure environment.

You must not give up, even if you are whipped and insulted.

If we can just get through these next six months, maybe we'll see hope.

Seeing the villagers' submissive attitude, Liu Guan's smugness deepened.

In the Liu family, he was just a minor steward in the outer hall, dependent on others.

But in Changyin Mountain, in Qingniu Village, he was the supreme local emperor.

He was addicted to the pleasure of dominating and whipping others at will.

Of course, besides...

He recalled Jiang Ning's arrogant attitude yesterday, which dampened Liu Guan's spirits.

He turned to his follower and asked, "Where's Ah Gou? Wasn't he sent to Baiye Village to check the situation at daybreak? Why hasn't he returned yet?"

"Boss, Ah Gou has gone, he should be back soon," the henchman replied hastily.

Liu Guan curled his lips in disdain. "Without holy blood to maintain the altar, it's just a matter of dying sooner or later. He's lucky to have survived two nights."

The henchman cautiously probed, "Boss, Jiang Ning is, after all, a direct descendant of the Jiang family. Even if... he's not favored, how did he get banished to this godforsaken place?"

Liu Guan gloated, "He offended the young master of the city. Letting him die in Changyin Mountain is too good for him. He's a good-for-nothing who can't even be respected by his own family. All he can do is put on airs in front of us."

"You saw how arrogant he was yesterday? I almost went up and punched him!"

The lackey shrank back and kept saying, "Yes, yes, boss is right."

Liu Guan cleared his throat, his tone becoming even more playful.

"But this kid is really unlucky. He got attacked on the way into the mountains and lost his life-saving holy blood. He's probably been waiting to die in despair these past two days. Tsk tsk, poor thing."

The henchman lowered his voice and cautiously asked, "Could it be... something arranged by the young master of the city garrison...?"

"Shut up!" Liu Guan glared at him.

"You can't just say things like that carelessly. If the Jiang family finds out, it'll be a slap in the face for them. But..."

He changed the subject, and smiled sinisterly, "Even if it really was arranged by the young master of the city, no one knows now, anyway, he won't live for many more days."

"It just so happens that Changyin Mountain is blocked. It was his fate to die there. It's better that he died in the mountains. Even if the Jiang family investigates afterwards, they won't find anything, and they won't make a big fuss. Besides, what about the Fourth Miss..."

"It was just a forced match made up by the elders of both clans to maintain relations. If you ask me, the Fourth Miss and the young master of the city are a perfect match. He is one of the few alchemists among the younger generation in the city, with a bright future and a strong background. If our Liu family could get close to him, hehe..."

The henchman quickly nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, boss, that's brilliant!"

At this moment, another lackey, Ah Gou, who had secretly gone to Baiye Village to investigate, stumbled and crawled into the village, his face pale and panting heavily.

Liu Guan greeted him irritably, "Why the hell are you in such a panic? How's it going at Baiye Village? Has that idiot Jiang Ning been completely devoured, leaving not even bones?"

Ah Gou, panting heavily, said intermittently:

"Boss, boss... there are so many strange things... so many..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Guan's eyes lit up:

"The village was wiped out so quickly? Good thing! Quick! Tell those lowly people not to leave, come back with me to Hundred Pages Village, and take all their remaining resources!"

"No, no, that's not right!" Ah Gou panicked and waved his hands repeatedly.

"Boss, a lot of monsters have died, they're piled up like a mountain!"

Liu Guan was stunned: "Dead? The sun came out and killed them?"

He looked up at the sky and thought the idea was a bit silly.

"It wasn't the sun!" Ah Gou struggled to find the words. "It was the towers! It was those towers that killed them!"

Liu Guan was completely bewildered: "Tower? What tower? I'm just asking you, is Jiang Ning dead or not?"

"He's not dead, he's not dead!" Ah Gou shook his head vigorously. "Besides... those towers seem to have been built by him, and there's a row of things, and flowers..."

"What did you say?" Liu Guan interrupted him abruptly, his voice rising abruptly.

"You're saying he can build towers? Can construct buildings? You're talking nonsense! That's a skill only the highest-ranking craftsmen in the city possess. How could a good-for-nothing abandoned by his family possibly have that ability? Even the young master guarding the city is just an alchemist. He..."

Liu Guan stopped speaking abruptly, his expression freezing and turning into surprise and doubt.

He recalled Jiang Ning's request yesterday to Baiye Village to mine black fungus, combined with Ah Gou's description of the tower, and Jiang Ning's unusual confidence yesterday...

An absurd thought popped into my head.

"No! No way..."

Liu Guan's throat bobbed, and his voice lowered, "Could it be that he awakened his talent as a master craftsman when he was about to die? But... how could that be?"

Ah Gou was almost crying with anxiety, "It's true! Boss, if you don't believe me, go see for yourself, the area outside Baiye Village is covered with layers and layers of bizarre deaths!"

"I'll go see what the hell!" Liu Guan glared, shouting with feigned bravado but underlying fear, "Am I going to get myself killed?!"

He started to panic.

If Baiye Village can truly withstand the impact of the supernatural forces and even kill so many of them, what does that mean?

The henchman beside him whispered, "Boss, how about... we go and join them, try to curry favor? After all... they're the Master Craftsmen..."

"Screw your ass!" Liu Guan jumped up, trying to cover up his inner panic with his loud voice.

"So what if he's a master craftsman? With the current state of things in the mountains, people can't get in or out, resources are scarce, and without the protection of the altar, even the most skilled master craftsman won't live long. He'll die sooner or later!"

But Liu Guan soon discovered that even he himself found this reason unreliable.

The fierce battle at Baiye Village last night was real, and they held on.

"no......"

Liu Guan's eyes turned sinister and urgent. "We have to find a way to notify the family as soon as possible. We must send someone in to kill this brat before the Jiang family gets the news."

"We can't let him leave Changyin Mountain alive. Otherwise, if the Jiang family gains another Celestial Craftsman, even if he's just awakened, our Liu family will never be able to hold our heads high in Danhua City again!"

His two henchmen were also stunned by his words. Although they felt it was a bit risky, they quickly nodded:

"Yes, the boss is right. No matter how skilled a master craftsman is, without the protection of the altar, they're doomed!"

Liu Guan took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and looked again at the rising sun on the horizon, a cold smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Heh, you little rascal, you're unlucky, you had a stroke of good luck before you died, but you're also lucky, you're about to die again... Tsk tsk, it seems the Jiang family's luck is really waning."