103: Attribute Update

Shen Xiaochuan walked out of the bathroom, his hair still dripping wet.

He walked to the kitchen doorway and saw Lilith and Lilia squatting on the floor, scrubbing the stove; their movements were slow, and their hands were trembling.

"Stop working," he said. "Go rest."

"Just a little more... the bottom of the pot isn't clean yet." Lilith looked up, her face pale.

"I said, stop." His voice was not loud, but firm.

Lilia braced herself against the stove to stand up, but her legs went weak, and she almost fell.

She leaned against the wall, gasping for air, her lips drained of color.

At this moment, the System notification sounded.

[Lilith has completed the Overload Cooking task. Experience +100%. Professional Rank upgraded to excellent grade Chef. Skill bonus acquired: Cooking speed +30%, Food recovery effect +20%.]

[Lilia has completed the Overload Cooking task. Experience +100%. Professional Rank upgraded to excellent grade Chef. Skill bonus acquired: Heat Control S-Rank, capable of preparing high-tier recovery meals.]

"We... leveled up?" Lilith's voice trembled, her eyes shining.

Lilia was stunned for a moment, then smiled, tears streaming down her face. "It's real... we did it."

They hugged each other, their shoulders shaking slightly.

After a while, Lilith wiped her face and whispered, "I thought I wouldn't be able to hold on until now."

"It's over." Shen Xiaochuan leaned against the doorframe. "You've completed the hardest task. Now it's time to get some proper rest."

"From now on, just cook the normal amount." His tone softened. "Eat three meals a day on time. You can't work yourself to death like this; your bodies will collapse."

The two nodded and walked toward their room, supporting each other.

As they were about to enter the room, Lilith turned back and asked, "My Lord... do we still need to cook tomorrow?"

"From now on, just cook the normal amount." He repeated again. "Eat on time, and don't stay up late working anymore."

The two acknowledged him and pushed the door open to enter the room.

After the door closed, it quickly went quiet inside.

Shen Xiaochuan returned to the table and sat down.

The table was piled with empty plates, and the freshly cooked rice had already gone cold.

He reached out and touched the bowl; it was icy.

He closed his eyes and entered the System interface.

The attribute panel opened.

[Name: Shen Xiaochuan]

[combat power: 789]

[Profession: Transcendent (Peak of the Human Dao)]

[faith points Stock: 1,582,700]

[Faith Growth Rate: +3 points per second]

[Summonable Believers' combat power Range: 30–35]

He scrolled down.

[Core Abilities Unlocked]

Divine Sequence 003 "Heavenly Punishment": Can summon thunderclouds covering a hundred miles, consumes 100,000 faith points per use.

009 "Purple Heaven Divine Thunder": The internal Thunder Force is extremely strong, capable of breaking divine body defenses, with a paralysis effect.

S-Rank passive talent evolution complete: faith points increase faster, automatic conversion efficiency improved.

Divine Sense Resonance cooldown reduced: Heroic Spirit summoning time changed from 24 hours to 12 hours.

He opened his eyes and tapped his fingers on the table.

789 combat power, much higher than ordinary gods.

With nuclear fusion technology, plus the Thunder Emperor Armor and Purple Heaven Divine Thunder, he could fight even against strong enemies.

But he didn't smile.

Skydome City was too small.

The resource fields were thirty kilometers outside the city; relying on human transport and horse-drawn carts was too slow.

The steam engine was just starting out, and the roads weren't built yet, so goods couldn't be transported in.

He had to clear the roads first.

He got up and walked to the sand table room.

The terrain of mountains and rivers was drawn on the sand table.

Red was his own territory, blue was the enemy's area, and green light spots were Tier 3 resource fields—located in the North Ridge, West Valley, and East Plain respectively, with the farthest one being thirty-seven kilometers from the city.

He stared at the old road to the North Ridge for a long time.

There were landslides there, as well as holes dug by strange beasts.

The team sent out yesterday reported that there were five breaks in the road, and large carts couldn't pass.

"Relying on human labor alone won't work," he said in a low voice.

Early the next morning, a team of workers stood in the square outside the Main Hall.

Zhou Mingrui was wearing grey cloth clothes, with a ruler hanging from his waist, and stood at the front with three assistants.

When Shen Xiaochuan came down from the high tower, they immediately stood at attention.

"You have four days," Shen Xiaochuan said, standing on the steps. "I want a main road that can accommodate horse-drawn carts and steam engines, leading directly from the city gate to the North Ridge resource field. Also, build a light rail line, using steam traction, connecting the West Valley and the East Plain."

Zhou Mingrui frowned. "Light rail requires track Materials; we can't mass-produce Vibranium Steel yet."

"I will provide the blueprints," Shen Xiaochuan said. "Before noon, you will receive a 'Standardized Railway Construction Package,' which contains cement formulas, sleeper standards, and steam engine designs."

Zhou Mingrui lowered his head and took notes.

"Build it in four days?" He looked up. "That section in the North Ridge requires blasting mountains and filling trenches; it will take at least ten days."

"Four days," Shen Xiaochuan repeated. "I can assign two hundred warriors to help with construction, and give you 500,000 faith points to exchange for Materials. Report whatever you are missing, and I will replenish it."

Zhou Mingrui gritted his teeth. "What if we can't finish it?"

"If you can't finish it, you step down," Shen Xiaochuan looked at him. "I don't need a person in charge who always says it can't be done."

The air went quiet for a few seconds.

Zhou Mingrui suddenly raised his hand in a salute. "I accept the order! Within four days, the main road and the light rail line will definitely be open!"

"Good." Shen Xiaochuan turned and pointed to the high tower. "I will climb to the top every day to check the progress. The first day is for laying foundations, the second day for paving the roadbed, the third day for building bridges and culverts, and the fourth day for trial runs. Not a single day can be delayed."

He walked down the steps and patted Zhou Mingrui on the shoulder. "You graduated with a degree in architecture; I believe you can do it."

Zhou Mingrui nodded and immediately arranged the division of labor for his subordinates.

Some went to the warehouse to collect tools, others started measuring the land, and the engineering team split into three groups, heading in three directions.

Shen Xiaochuan didn't leave.

He stood at the edge of the square, watching the first batch of workers carrying iron picks toward the North Gate.

Behind them followed a modified flatbed cart, loaded with parts for a steam pile driver.

When the first pile was driven into the ground, the sun had just risen to the rooftops.

Boom!

The steam engine spewed white smoke, the heavy hammer fell, and soil splashed.

Five minutes later, the second pile was also driven in.

The cement mixing Formation was activated, and six Believers held rune shovels, stirring inside the circular Formation.

The grey slurry quickly took shape, was poured into molds, and made into blocks of roadbed.

The iron mine in the south of the city sent the first batch of crude steel, which craftsmen re-smelted in small furnaces and cut into track strips.

At twelve noon, Zhou Mingrui ran back to the Main Hall to report.

"The obstacle clearance for the northern section is complete; two dangerous rocks were blasted, and a trench was filled. The starting point for the West Valley light rail has had its piles set, and the East Plain encountered an underground current, so we are rerouting."

Shen Xiaochuan nodded. "Stick to the plan. Work overtime tonight; I authorize double work points."

"Yes!"

At three in the afternoon, the first section of hardened road surface was paved.

It was thirty meters long and six meters wide, with a flat surface capable of supporting vehicles over five tons.

Shen Xiaochuan went up and stepped on it himself.

It felt very solid underfoot.

He squatted down and touched the edge; there were no cracks.

"Good," he said.

In the evening, the first section of the light rail track was installed.

Workers secured it with rivets, and the joints were seamless.

The test small tractor was pushed onto the track, and the driver pulled the handle.

Woo—

The whistle blew, the vehicle moved forward slowly, traveled fifty meters, and stopped. It didn't derail, nor did it tilt.

The people around applauded.

Shen Xiaochuan stood on the top floor of the high tower, watching through binoculars.

Below, it was brightly lit, with people coming and going.

Cranes rotated, pile drivers roared, and furnaces flashed with red light.

The newly built road looked like a line, extending outward from the city center.

He lowered the binoculars and touched the copper gear pendant around his neck.

This thing had been with him for ten years.

The day his father retired, he had sewn it onto the cuff of his work clothes with his own hands.

Now it was still here, but the things he was doing were different.

He wasn't repairing machines; he was building a world where people could survive.

He turned and walked to the console, opening the communication channel.

"Notify all department heads; meeting tomorrow morning at seven. Agenda: Fully implement industrial production standards and establish a material allocation center."

After speaking, he walked to the window.

In the distance, the last street light pole was being erected.

Two workers were holding the base, and a third was tightening the screws.

The wrench turned three times, and with a click, it locked tight.

One of them jumped down, clapped the dust off his hands, and looked up at the high tower.

Shen Xiaochuan didn't hide.

He knew someone was watching him.

He also knew that once this road started, it would not stop.