I built a safe house in the eerie night.

The strange corpses piled up outside the village have been basically cleaned up and sorted out after a morning.

The densely packed white bones were neatly stacked beside the crematorium, waiting to be added in turn and transformed into raw materials for arrows.

Jiang Ning also roughly figured out some of the strange aspects of the situation.

These are the most common unranked monsters, whether they are the early spirit monsters and wandering ghosts, or the later ones like the bag-headed monsters and belly-walking monsters.

Their essential skeletons and the parts that are peeled off are largely the same, mainly composed of bones and grayish-white "gray Tai Sui".

The first-tier monster corpses discovered deep in the dead forest a couple of days ago are different; they can produce higher-level "Black Tai Sui".

Their bones are also thicker and their shapes are more bizarre, so throwing them into the crematorium would likely yield more high-quality resources.

Watching the two crematoriums burning at full power, billowing out odorless and invisible smoke.

Jiang Ning briefly considered whether to build two more crematoriums to increase the processing speed.

However, upon further reflection, since the arrow reserves are not a concern for the time being, it would be better to concentrate resources and prioritize upgrading the existing crematorium to the second tier when conditions permit.

After all, it can also improve the efficiency of burning and produce other resources, such as the probability of burning and transforming into rare treasures.

"We still need to focus on the immediate situation and put all the resources we have today into the defense line. Let's get through tonight first."

Jiang Ning made a quick decision and then beckoned Yu Niu to come.

"Ah Niu, after clearing out the remaining corpses, were there any other drops?"

Yu Niu hurriedly ran over, carrying several things in his hands.

"Young master, that's all. These are the ones we found this morning."

He opened his hand, revealing three luminous, exotic beads and four dull-colored leather pouches in his palm.

"Is that all...?"

Jiang Ning took it, his brows furrowing.

The situation was worse than he had anticipated.

After a fierce battle involving thousands of strange creatures all night, only two rare treasure beads were dropped. Adding the first one found in the wild, there are only three in total.

The drop rate was so low that Jiang Ning wanted to curse.

If these three orbs don't yield the much-needed defenses, including the most desired offensive building blueprints, the pressure tonight will increase dramatically with the existing arrow towers alone.

Fortunately, there are still four lucky bags. The usual materials inside should be enough to upgrade the remaining bone arrow towers and further enhance the existing firepower.

"Your face is so dark..."

Jiang Ning sighed helplessly.

I killed fewer monsters the first two days, but last night I killed a ton of them, but the drop rate seems to be the same. I guess I just have to accept it.

He then instructed Yu Niu, saying:

"Let the brothers rest briefly, drink some water, eat something to replenish their energy, and then... split into two groups."

"One group goes to retrieve any bodies that might be scattered in the woods far outside the village, be careful. The other group takes tools and continues to cut down trees and clear land, pushing the dead forest a little further in."

"Yes, sir!"

Yu Niu readily agreed and turned to deliver the message.

He himself seemed to have inexhaustible energy, but Jiang Ning could see that everyone else, even the youngest and strongest lad in the village, looked tired.

After several days of continuous high-intensity work, coupled with malnutrition, the body was under tremendous strain.

Even so, no one complained, no one backed down, and they immediately carried out Jiang Ning's orders as soon as they arrived.

Jiang Ning saw all this and felt both touched and pressured.

"Just hang in there a little longer. Once we get through tonight, maybe we can catch our breath a little."

Expanding the reclaimed land and cutting down more dead trees is not only for obtaining timber resources, but also for improving the environment outside the village.

After the logging in the previous two days, the number of eerie creatures emerging from the depths of the dead forest at night has significantly decreased.

Although the exact mechanism by which these strange creatures grow is unclear, we cleared away these eerie, dead trees.

Reducing dark corners and opening up the field of vision can also lengthen the buffer distance for eerie attacks, which is definitely beneficial to the village's defense.

Jiang Ning looked up and saw that the once bright sun was now slowly being obscured by thick dark clouds, and the light in the sky and earth had dimmed considerably.

In the distance, gusts of mountain wind howled, causing withered trees to sway and mountain dust to rise.

"A storm is brewing..."

Jiang Ning sighed softly, his premonition of danger growing clearer as he looked in the direction Yao Chengzhou had left.

"Hopefully, this grandfather and grandson can return safely and bring back the holy blood... Otherwise, with this kind of high pressure every day, even the strongest person couldn't withstand it..."

Turn your gaze away and clear your mind of distractions.

Jiang Ning decided to activate the rare treasures he possessed first, starting with the bead dropped by the monster that he obtained earliest.

With his hands clasped together and rubbing them back and forth, Jiang Ning launched into a prayer ritual.

"Bodhisattva Taiyi, may the Heavenly Venerable Granny protect me..."

result--

[Successfully unlocked a Tier 1 rare treasure, obtained: Building blueprint "Forging Workshop"]

A phantom-like diagram of a house structure floats before my eyes.

Jiang Ning's heart sank slightly.

It's not the most urgently needed blueprints for offensive or defensive buildings, but rather for living and tool-related buildings.

"well......"

Jiang Ning could only shake his head in frustration and check the details.

[Forging Workshop (Tier 1)]

[Description: A basic forging facility can be installed, allowing for the independent development of new tool blueprints or the incorporation of existing tool blueprints, which can then be authorized for use by villagers for standardized forging.]

[Note: Additional functions may be added after completion; on-site inspection is required.]

[Required for crafting: 200 Black Tai Sui, 50 (Yin Wood, Black Stone), 10 Low-grade Spirit Stones.]

"We need more spirit stones..."

Jiang Ning rubbed his temples.

"Okay, it's not exactly what we need, but it's an essential part of the territory's development. With the workshop, we can make the tools we need in the future more standardized."

"Besides, isn't it written that there might be other hidden uses... have they ever been?"

Jiang Ning tried to comfort herself.

Next, activate the second building-type rare gem.

[Successfully unlocked a Tier 1 rare treasure, obtained: Building blueprint "Soul Gathering Lamp Pillar"]

【Soul Gathering Lamp Pillar (Tier 1 Functional Building)】

[Description: Two lampposts are placed inside and outside the territory. The outer lamppost automatically absorbs surrounding eerie energy to recharge. Once a threshold is reached, the inner lamppost will expand its domain, enhancing the attack speed, recharge efficiency, and operating interval of buildings within the domain, such as the "Bone Arrow Tower."]

[Note: The Tier 1 lamppost effect lasts for 7 days. During this period, the lamppost will be in a "hidden" state and cannot be detected or attacked by conventional means.]

[Required for crafting: 500 Black Tai Sui, 1 Ghost Eye Crystal, 10 Low-grade Spirit Stones.]

"Functional buildings, well, area-of-effect buffs..."

Jiang Ning read it carefully, and his eyes finally opened wide and lit up.

It doesn't directly attack units, but its role is still quite crucial.

Increasing the rate of fire and operational efficiency of arrow towers is equivalent to indirectly increasing the overall firepower density.

It lasts for seven days and also has the ability to become invisible, ensuring safety.

"This is pretty good. It's not the one I want most, but it's a strong support item. As long as it's useful for defense, that's fine."

The spirit of Jiangning has been mentioned quite often.

Finally, his gaze fell on the pure white bead.

This is an even rarer "treasure" type of rare item.

The hope of attacking the building has been dashed, but the expectation of finding treasures remains.

Jiang Ning didn't waste any time and started immediately.

[Successfully unlocked a Tier 1 rare treasure, obtained: "Netherworld Bone Spear"]

As the information appeared, the phantom of a strangely shaped spear also appeared in the air.

The entire gun body appears to be polished from the skeleton of some kind of pale, giant beast, with smooth lines and a powerful feel.

The tip of the spear was not metal, but a dark, almost black bone crystal, with a faint glow flowing inside.

Near the grip of the gun, there is a faint indentation with an odd shape.

【Netherworld Bone Spear (Tier 1)】

[Note: Requires the infusion of one 'Mysterious Eye Crystal' for activation]