CHAPTER 201: CHAPTER 83: THE TERROR STRIKES OFFICIALLY ARRIVE

A short while after Dongg Qingxue left, Lu Weite, the director of the Lusen Chamber of Commerce, approached Lin Rui and said with a smile, "Lord Lin Rui, it seems you are quite confident about tonight’s events; the domain is filled with singing and dancing."

Lin Rui smiled faintly and replied, "We can’t let today’s worries overshadow our current life."

"Well said. No matter what, our Lusen Chamber of Commerce is your most sincere friend, Lord Lin Rui."

"Haha, drink, drink. All friendships are in the wine." Lin Rui handed him a cup, dismissing his words with indifference. Is there really such eternal friendship? It’s just this sly person assuming the Golden Pansy Domain won’t be destroyed tonight.

As the songs and dances continued, time rapidly advanced, leaving only an hour before the end of the protection period.

Just as Lin Rui thought he would quietly wait for the protection period to end, an imposing system announcement suddenly rang out.

[Civilization Announcement: Explorer No.: 83202317688 successfully upgraded their territory to a town.]

[Civilization Announcement: Explorer No.: 83202317688 successfully activated the Civilization and War System, erecting a shining monument on the path of civilization expansion! Reward: One Rare Level Miracle Building.]

The sudden system announcement shattered the last bit of tranquility before the protection period ended, prompting Lin Rui to open the detailed system announcement with a grim expression.

[Era of Civilization: War is a paradox of civilization. War both destroys civilization and develops it. It brings out the best and worst in humanity; it’s in the crucible of war that empires are forged. In the civilization created by humans, war acts as a catalyst. After war, the flowers of civilization bloom even brighter. People curse war while also sharing its fruits. War’s evil consequences include shedding blood, consuming lives, squandering wealth, destroying homes, creating suffering, leaving humiliation, and destroying civilization... Its ties to delicious food, stronger spiritual energy, greater power, higher authority, brilliant strategic wisdom, and the nation it occurs in are all undeniable.]

[Explorers have passed through the shaky, stormy period of village infancy and have established stronger towns, inevitably facing harsher wars. Following civilization, conquest will come. Under the War System, Explorers are permitted to attack each other’s territories. Breaking through a Territory Keystone allows choosing to occupy, plunder, or destroy.]

[Choosing to occupy means completely seizing the territory and becoming its new Lord.]

[Choosing to plunder means obtaining all the wealth in the territory’s lord, warehouse, soldiers, and civilian storage spaces.]

[Choosing to destroy means obtaining one Territorial Essence.]

[Territorial Essence: War fosters civilization; destruction breeds vitality. No civilization can expand vast lands with splendid geography, mild climate, abundant resources, a large population, and a historically significant region without experiencing war and expansion. Adding a Territorial Essence to a Territory Keystone can randomly grant one reward from these contents. Upgrading a town requires 0/16 Territorial Essences.]

Lin Rui closed the system announcement with a heavy heart.

Though feeling reluctant, Lin Rui realized that "Era of Civilization" forces civil war among Explorers, yet he knew this setup was quite apt.

As the system mentioned, no civilization can spread wide and sparkle brilliantly without undergoing war and expansion.

Moreover, with eighty billion Explorers, having eighty billion Lords is evidently unreasonable. The system operates like an insect cage, providing everyone with a fair starting point then selecting a group of strong individuals to concentrate resources and fight a Plane War.

Encountering unforeseen circumstances at the last moment before the protection period ends is absolutely not favorable for the Explorers.

Lin Rui opened the territory rankings and took a glance; the top of the comprehensive strength rankings had already changed to: "First Place: Noesen Moonlight Forest, Level: Town."

The gap among Explorers was enormous; countless individuals were still struggling at the broken village level, while the elite among Explorers had already ascended to town level!

It was utterly unreasonable! It’s only been a week, how can one develop a town from scratch? How many hacks did the Earth Mother Goddess provide him?

Could an ordinary person establish a town of a thousand people on an open desert within a week?

Soro hurriedly arrived; as the Civil Servant of the territory, he needed to explain the huge disparity between them and others to Lin Rui: "Lord, our territory is actually developing as fast as possible. We’re just seriously restricted by insufficient population."

Lin Rui closed the territory ranking and calmly said, "No need to worry; I have no intention of blaming you. I think developing the territory to this prosperous level within a week is quite fast. Population indeed limits our development speed."

The territory didn’t lack military strength or wealth, but the speed of population acquisition was indeed limited.

Lin Rui took out two Farmer Recruitment Scrolls from the backpack, which were obtained from today’s treasure chest, and immediately used them to recruit twenty farmers.

Then Lin Rui glanced at the time, only ten minutes remained before the protection period ended, and he made his final arrangements: "Starting tomorrow, lead the farmers to fully expand the territory’s residential areas and warehouse. With the monster attacks, many imperial citizens will undoubtedly be displaced. Our territory must seize the chance to accumulate strength."

"I will follow your will, my esteemed master."

Lin Rui nodded and then instructed Terion nearby, "Gather all the soldiers of the territory and prepare to engage!"