Da Ming: The system granted me immortality; I clock in every day.

Wang Shouren's eyes burned with intensity, and he suddenly drew the sword from his waist.

This sword was crafted by a master craftsman from the Qintian Pavilion. It can cut through iron like mud, and the hilt is engraved with the "sharp" spirit pattern.

He strode forward, mustered all his strength, and slashed fiercely at the faintly glowing city wall.

"Clang!"

A piercing clang of metal striking metal echoed through the sky.

Wang Shouren felt a violent tremor in his tiger's mouth, and his entire right arm went numb.

The hundred-forged sword in his hand was actually chipped open with a nick the size of a fingernail.

In contrast, the city wall, where the sword blade struck, only produced a faint ripple of earthy yellow.

Once the ripples subsided, the surface of the city wall was as smooth as ever, without even the slightest white mark left behind.

"Excellent! What a wonderful example of returning to the origin of the earth!"

Ignoring the broken sword, Wang Shouren laughed loudly, looking up at the sky.

The laughter revealed a boundless sense of pride in finally gaining a foothold in this wild and untamed land.

"With such an impregnable fortress, let alone the two-headed serpent, even if the entire army and the hordes of beasts from this new continent were to gather, our Ming soldiers would still be able to defend the city to the death, as firm as Mount Tai!"

"Shen Jiansheng, you have rendered an unparalleled service. I, the commander, will certainly petition the court to award you the highest merit!"

Shen You bowed deeply to the ground, his eyes slightly warm.

"You flatter me, General. I dare not take credit. The formation was made possible entirely by the guidance of a wandering gentleman in blue robes. Without your explanation of the Five Elements theory of mutual generation using wheat straw, I could not have drawn such a continuously generating formation even if I had spent another ten years."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shouren's smile faded slightly, and a knowing glint flashed deep in his eyes.

Sure enough it was him.

In this world, there is no one like that gentleman who regards immortal arts as commonplace as the craftsmen of the marketplace, and who can change the world with a mere flick of his finger.

Who else could possess such effortless, divine skill?

Since you are unwilling to show yourself, it means you do not wish to be tainted by worldly fame.

"Since it was a wise and learned person who gave you guidance, it is also an opportunity for you, Shen You."

Wang Shouren patted Shen You on the shoulder and did not pursue the matter further.

"Order the entire army to slaughter cattle and sheep tonight to reward the troops! Starting tomorrow, using Zhenhai Fort as a base, the army will advance in three routes eastward towards Wolong Ridge to reclaim wasteland!"

The Zhenhai Fortress instantly transformed into a sea of ​​joy.

The soldiers cheered with joy. With this impregnable city, they finally had a true "home" in this foreign land.

Meanwhile, in the folk trade district outside Zhenhai Fort, there was a market area.

Despite the biting cold wind, the heat here was no less intense than that of a military camp.

After more than a month of operation, Fuyuanhao's shop has been expanded from a dilapidated tarpaulin shed to three spacious wooden houses.

The wood used is all top-quality camphor wood felled from the surrounding mountains and forests, emitting a refreshing fragrance that repels insects and wards off evil spirits.

Old Zhao was wearing a brand-new, thick cotton robe and holding a hand warmer in his hand, standing in front of the shop.

He watched with a smile as his workers moved goods in and out of the trucks.

With the stable mining of the Wolongling Spirit Stone Vein, the Ming Dynasty court became increasingly confident in this new continent.

In addition to the spirit stones that were continuously transported back to the Central Plains, there were also a large number of associated minerals and exotic plants that were converted into silver notes by the quartermaster and flowed into the hands of these merchants.

"Accountant Li, look at these accounts! Our income this month is equivalent to ten years of shipping in the Bohai Bay!"

Zhao Laolang turned his head to Li Changqing, who was sitting behind the counter doing accounts, his tone full of undisguised smugness.

Behind the counter, Li Changqing maintained his carefree and unconventional demeanor.

He wore a worn-out wool cloak and held a small purple clay teapot in his hands, sipping his drink slowly and deliberately.

He manipulated the abacus on the table with effortless skill, and on a thick ledger, every transaction of money was meticulously recorded in tiny characters.

"Don't be too happy, sir."

Li Changqing put down the purple clay teapot and turned a page in the account book.

"In the past few days, the number of soldiers coming to the district to buy winter clothing and medicine has increased by nearly 30%. It is said that the vanguard battalion encountered swarms of poisonous miasma and venomous crocodiles hiding in the mud in the black swamp area east of Wolong Ridge, and lost a lot of men."

Li Changqing raised his eyes, his clear gaze seemingly able to see through the bustling city and reach the cruel wilderness.

"The further the imperial army advances, the greater the resistance it will encounter. The depths of this new continent are not our own backyard. We merchants need to be careful with our stockpiling."

"Next, the healing herbs, the detoxifying pills, and the finest iron and gunpowder will be the most sought-after hard currencies."

"As for those silk and porcelain items that look good but are useless, sell them at a discount to the new merchants as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Laolang felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, instantly sobering him up.

After thinking it over carefully, he suddenly slapped his thigh.

"Accountant Li is right! Expanding territory always involves bloodshed. I'll instruct my men to sell off the silk in the warehouse at a bargain price, freeing up space to buy antidotes and refined iron!"

Looking at Li Changqing, Zhao Laolang felt even more admiration.

This seemingly weak and helpless scholar had truly sharp eyes, and his understanding of the situation was even more insightful than that of a seasoned veteran who had spent most of his life at sea.

"Mr. Li."

Old Zhao moved closer, and even his way of addressing him changed unconsciously.

"Old man, there is something I don't understand. With your great talent, if you were to seek a position as an advisor in the army, or take the imperial examination at the Imperial Academy, you would surely rise rapidly in your career."

Why should I confine myself to this old man's small Fuyuan ship, fiddling with these tedious abacus beads?

Upon hearing this, Li Changqing smiled slightly.

He tucked his hands into his sleeves, turned his head, and looked out at the bustling street filled with people coming and going, their sweat, shouts, and haggling.

"Master, you find these abacus beads boring, but I find them quite interesting."

Li Changqing's voice was calm, revealing a sense of returning to simplicity after experiencing countless vicissitudes of time.

"Every bead on this abacus records not only a few taels of silver, but also the way of life of millions of people in the Ming Dynasty."

"Some people risk their lives in this bitterly cold land for a few taels of silver, while others use that silver to buy winter clothes for their entire family."

"The prosperity of the Ming Dynasty was not achieved through empty words in the court, but through hard work and perseverance in every transaction in the trade markets and every battle in the military camps."

"As I sit here and work on my abacus, I can hear the heartbeat of the Ming Dynasty. The flavors of life in the bustling city are far more profound than those in the grand halls of power and the lofty halls of the imperial court."

Zhao Laolang was completely confused.

I felt that Mr. Li's words had a profound Zen-like quality, yet every word made sense.

He scratched his head and chuckled twice.

"Sir, you are a learned man, your understanding is profound, beyond my comprehension. All I know is that with your discerning eye, the Fuyuan ship will surely amass a fortune in this new continent!"

With the passing of the Beginning of Winter, the New World welcomed its first heavy snowfall since the Ming army landed.