Chapter 78 – Special Talents (Bonus Chapter)

Chapter 78 – Special Talents (Bonus Chapter)

Niu Bing immediately chuckled, “That’s easy. My secondary profession is carpentry. I can chop down 10 cubic meters of wood in a day, enough to build a Level 1 civilian house.”

Pang Shan, standing beside him, pinched his waist upon hearing his lecherous laugh, causing him to jump in pain. This scene elicited laughter from everyone, though Niu Bing didn’t seem to mind.

After the laughter subsided, Pang Shan turned to Cheng Yang and asked, “Lord, do you think Xi Yue can change her profession?”

Cheng Yang glanced at Liu Xi Yue, making her feel somewhat anxious.

After a while, Cheng Yang said, “There’s no problem with her changing professions, but not right now. The profession change quotas at the statues in the territory have all been used up. We’ll have to wait until the statues are upgraded. It won’t take long, at most two days.”

Liu Xi Yue was pleasantly surprised and immediately said, “Thank you… Lord.” To be honest, addressing someone as ‘Lord’ still felt a bit strange to her.

“It’s nothing. Everyone will eventually change professions,” Cheng Yang replied.

“Lord, what about us?” Zhou Jie asked nervously. Although they had heard Cheng Yang mention the possibility of changing professions before, they hadn’t received a definitive answer, so their anxiety was understandable.

Cheng Yang said, “You’ll have the same opportunity.”

“Thank you, Lord,” Zhou Jie and the other person said joyfully.

Cheng Yang looked at everyone and couldn’t help but ask, “Did all of you come to see me just for this?”

Liu Hao immediately said, “Of course not! These matters are just incidental. The main issue hasn’t been discussed yet. Captain Li, why don’t you explain?”

Cheng Yang turned to Li Wanshan, immediately understanding that they probably had some suggestions regarding territory management. If it were about other matters, Liu Hao wouldn’t have asked Li Wanshan to speak.

Li Wanshan stepped forward and said, “Lord, here’s the situation. Our Falling Phoenix Village territory now has a population of nearly twenty thousand, with over eight hundred combatants. However, the management is still somewhat chaotic, even loose. Whether it’s the allocation of civilian housing or the distribution of daily necessities for the ordinary people living on the outskirts, there are some issues. Last night, we discussed some ideas and wanted to share them with you.”

“Go ahead, no need to be so formal,” Cheng Yang said immediately.

Li Wanshan continued, “Thank you, Lord. My suggestions are twofold. First, we should select a few individuals with management experience from the ordinary people to handle the distribution of daily necessities and mediate disputes. Second, we should find suitable candidates to register the combatants and set some conditions for them to have independent housing under appropriate circumstances. As you know, Lord, the concept of ‘home’ is very important to our people. Having a place of their own is crucial.”

Cheng Yang immediately said, “Old Li, your suggestions are excellent. Let’s handle the first matter by having you oversee the selection of suitable individuals from the ordinary people. Those chosen can be prioritized for profession changes. However, be careful not to select those with strong bureaucratic tendencies.”

“Yes, Lord!” Li Wanshan replied promptly.

Cheng Yang continued, “As for the second point, I’ve already made some arrangements. After the territory upgrades, residents can donate spiritual energy or materials to increase their contribution points. The benefits they receive in the territory will be tied to their contribution points. Think about the specific details, and we’ll discuss and decide tonight. That should resolve the issues you mentioned.”

Li Wanshan sighed in relief but then added, “Lord, is donating spiritual energy and materials the only way to earn contribution points? Isn’t that a bit one-sided?”

Cheng Yang explained, “I understand your point, but purely in terms of contributing to the territory, there are too many factors involved, and it’s difficult to quantify them. The importance of a single task isn’t something the world’s rules can easily measure. After all, the same task can have different effects at different times, and its value to the territory can vary. So, for such matters, we’ll have to establish reward and punishment systems outside the divine rules. For example, if someone does something beneficial for the territory, we can reward them with a certain amount of spiritual energy. Whether they choose to donate it to the territory is up to them.”

Liu Hao chimed in, “That’s a good approach.”

Li Wanshan said, “The approach is sound, but there are too many details involved. It might take a while to come up with a specific management plan.”

Cheng Yang smiled, “There’s no rush. We can take it step by step. First, we’ll establish a broad framework, and then we can adjust the details as we go.”

“That makes sense,” Li Wanshan sighed. He was well aware that things were different now. Before the apocalypse, making a decision that affected tens of thousands of people required numerous meetings and leadership approvals, often taking months to reach a final conclusion. But now, if Cheng Yang decided something, it would be done immediately, greatly simplifying the process.

After the discussion, Liu Hao asked, “Lord, what’s our main task for today? The monsters around the territory don’t need us to kill them, and we can’t handle the larger monster groups further away.”

Cheng Yang understood Liu Hao’s concern. With the territory’s guards in place, the combatant teams no longer needed to kill monsters within a one-kilometer radius of the territory. Previously, the larger groups of demonized beasts in the area beyond that had been cleared out, allowing the combatant teams to hunt within a three to four-kilometer radius.

However, as the territory’s level increased, about half of that area had been incorporated into the territory, leaving insufficient space for over eight hundred combatants to hunt efficiently.

Cheng Yang said, “Let’s have those with life skill tools gather resources today, especially stone. It’s essential, or we won’t be able to build any of our important structures.”

Li Wanshan added, “Lord, only a few people have life skill tools. Apart from those who frequently join us in dungeons and have some leftover spiritual energy, most people can barely afford to maintain double cultivation speed, let alone save up for life skill tools. However, I’ve heard that some combatants have paused their double cultivation to save up for life skill tools.”

Cheng Yang nodded. This was expected. While life skills weren’t essential for survival in the apocalypse, having high-level life skills could undoubtedly make life more comfortable in the future.

For those not specializing in life skills, crafting skills might not need to be upgraded, but gathering skills were essential. Many precious raw materials were scattered across the world. If a combatant discovered a valuable resource far from the territory but couldn’t gather it due to insufficient skill level, it would be a great loss.

Therefore, it was crucial for these people to start practicing life skills as soon as possible.

Cheng Yang had considered providing more spiritual energy for them to purchase tools, but with over eight hundred combatants in the territory, how much could he provide? As the lord, not a babysitter, sacrificing his eightfold cultivation speed for their life skill practice was unacceptable.

Since there was no urgent need to build those structures immediately, he decided to let them develop at their own pace.

Cheng Yang nodded and said, “There’s still an area around Falling Phoenix Village where you can operate. Let some combatants hunt there for now. Later, each of you can select ten combatants to join me. Old Niu, you won’t be coming; it’s your team’s cultivation time at noon.”

Niu Bing, understanding the importance of cultivation, didn’t insist on joining.

Suddenly, Cheng Yang remembered something and asked, “Old Niu, you mentioned yesterday that a combatant in your team died. Has that profession change quota been used yet?”

Niu Bing was momentarily stunned, then replied, “Not yet. As soon as we returned last night, they dragged me over for a critique session, and I haven’t had time to find someone suitable for the profession change.”

Cheng Yang immediately said, “No need to look for someone. I’ll borrow that quota for now and return it to you after the profession statues are upgraded.”

As Niu Bing looked on in astonishment, Cheng Yang turned to Wang Lu and said, “Wang Lu, come with me for a profession change.”

Without waiting for Wang Lu’s surprised and delighted response, Cheng Yang headed outside. Naturally, Wang Lu wouldn’t refuse such an opportunity and quickly followed.

Left behind, Liu Hao and the others exchanged bewildered glances. Niu Bing couldn’t help but mutter, “Haozi, do you think Yangzi and that… Wang Lu are…”

Before Liu Hao could respond, Pang Shan interjected, “You’re overthinking it. Maybe the Lord chose Wang Lu because she has a special talent?”

“That makes sense,” Niu Bing said blankly. “But Wang Lu hasn’t even changed professions yet. How would Yangzi know if she has a special talent?”

Pang Shan rolled her eyes, “How did the Lord know the apocalypse was coming before it happened?”

Niu Bing chuckled, “I didn’t think of that.”

Li Wanshan, watching the young people banter, couldn’t help but smile, “I agree with Pang Shan. Wang Lu might indeed have a special talent. Otherwise, why would he specifically bring her and Zhou Jie back from Xiang City?”

Zhou Jie exclaimed in surprise, “Does that mean I have a special talent too?”

The others all looked at Zhou Jie. Liu Hao shook his head directly, “I don’t see it.”

PS: Typing until 2 AM, I’ve finally completed the four bonus chapters owed from the new book ranking period. Thank you all for your support. Before the book goes on sale, as long as there are fans with the title of helmsman or above, I will add more chapters. Can you give me some motivation?