7: Looting

After Shen Xiaochuan returned, he nodded with a grave expression: "Distribute the medicine, save the severely injured first. Make sure to record the names of the fallen warriors, and compensate each family with ten catties of grain and five pieces of crystal Ore."

"Understood."

Chen Yan replied, then paused, his voice trembling slightly: "Did we... really kill a B-rank god?"

"Dead is just a corpse."

Shen Xiaochuan looked up, his gaze calm: "Go dig under the altar. Lin Ku threw something inside before he died."

Chen Yan called over five warriors and used iron picks to pry open the collapsed floor tiles.

A secret compartment was revealed underneath, containing two items: a fist-sized crystal ball covered in cracks, and a jagged piece of a bronze shield.

"What is this?"

Chen Yan reached out to take the crystal ball.

"Don't touch it!"

Shen Xiaochuan snatched it away, his tone serious: "This thing is hard to clean once it gets dusty."

He opened the Faith Mall interface and dragged the crystal ball into the identification box.

【Item Name: Eye of Sweet Spring (Rare Grade)】

【Function: Produces 3,000 liters of water daily after activation】

【Usage Condition: Must be buried in the land of the God Kingdom】

He then looked at the bronze fragment.

【Item Name: Thorn Barrier (Rare Grade)】

【Function: Increases fortification strength by 50% and can counterattack enemies】

【Usage Condition: Consumes 100 faith points to activate】

"These two are good items."

Shen Xiaochuan put them away: "Notify everyone to stop the pursuit, gather on the spot, and count the loot."

"There are still some houses outside that haven't been dismantled..."

"Leave them."

Shen Xiaochuan interrupted: "We are short on people right now, not resources. First, move back what we can use, settle the wounded, and we'll talk about the rest later."

Chen Yan acknowledged and turned to pass the order.

Half an hour later, the troop began to retreat. The warriors pushed wooden carts piled high with weapons, Ore, and unopened rune boxes.

Shen Xiaochuan walked at the back, holding the Eye of Sweet Spring in his hand. The crystal ball kept vibrating slightly, as if it were alive.

Just as they reached the valley entrance, a cloud of dust kicked up ahead.

A group of people was kneeling in the middle of the road, men, women, the elderly, and children, all wearing tattered clothes and covered in dirt.

"We beg you to take us in, My Lord!"

The old man leading them kowtowed heavily: "We escaped from the Shattered God Domain in the north, we truly have nowhere else to go!"

The hundred or so people behind him also kowtowed, their voices chaotic and miserable: "Please save us!"

"The children are starving to death!"

"We can work, we just want a bite to eat!"

Chen Yan frowned and whispered a reminder: "Lord God, these people have unknown origins. What if there are spies mixed in?"

"Are you still worrying about such things at a time like this?"

Shen Xiaochuan stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his voice stern: "Are you willing to follow orders? Can you abide by the rules? No causing trouble, no stealing?"

The old man nodded quickly: "Yes! We are all willing! We just want a place to settle down!"

"Get up."

Shen Xiaochuan's tone was severe: "From now on, you are under my jurisdiction. Lodgings will be arranged immediately. But there is one rule—whoever dares to cause chaos or commit evil, I will not kill you, but I will make you wish you were dead."

The crowd kowtowed again, this time in gratitude.

"Chen Yan."

Shen Xiaochuan turned back: "How many empty thatched huts are there?"

"Seventeen, they were just repaired."

"Clear them all out. Set up a few more sheds, prioritize the elderly and children. Start building new houses tomorrow."

"Yes."

The team continued forward. Some young adults stepped forward to help pull the carts. A young woman held her child and wept softly. Shen Xiaochuan did not stop, quickening his pace toward the temple.

Returning to the old temple site, he found a flat piece of land, crouched down, and pressed the Eye of Sweet Spring into the soil.

As he let go, the crystal ball slowly sank, embedding half a foot into the ground. The ground shook slightly, and then with a "whoosh," clear water gushed out from the cracks, flowing down the slope.

"Water!"

Someone exclaimed.

The originally exhausted crowd gathered around. The wounded ran over on crutches, children chased the flowing water jumping and playing, and even Chen Yan stood stunned.

"It really produced water?"

"Try and see if it's drinkable."

Shen Xiaochuan leaned down, cupped a handful of water, and drank it.

The water was clear, sweet, and carried a hint of coolness.

"It's drinkable!"

He stood up: "Immediately designate areas to build water storage tanks. Starting tomorrow, enforce water rationing, and strictly prohibit waste."

The crowd cheered instantly.

At this moment, a System notification popped up:

【God Kingdom population reached 1027, a Breakthrough of the thousand-person mark】

【Reward: incense value + 10】

Shen Xiaochuan glanced at the panel:

God Kingdom population: 1027 (including warriors)

Occupation distribution: 89 farmers, 12 blacksmiths, 6 physicians, 15 carpenters, others pending

faith points growth: +1 per second

Currently holding: 10 incense value, 327 catties of Ore, 410 catties of wind wolf meat, 23 sheets of blank rune paper

He stored the incense value and walked toward the temporary command shed.

Chen Yan followed him: "Lord God, scouts from the east report that people from three god domains are watching from afar, but they haven't approached."

"Let them watch."

Shen Xiaochuan said indifferently: "Who doesn't know now that a killing god has appeared in the novice zone? I'm not worried they won't come to join us."

"What if they attack?"

"Fight if we can, defend if we can't. We absolutely cannot let them take advantage of us."

Chen Yan spread out the map: "You take people to install the Thorn Barrier at the gap in the south wall; that's the easiest place to breach. It must be finished today."

"How many people do you need?"

"Thirty strong ones will do. Call me when it's installed, and I will activate it personally."

Chen Yan received the order and left.

By dusk, the water source had been connected to the camp, and five water storage tanks were filled one after another, with water flowing in slowly. News came from the medical tent: the condition of the severely wounded was stable, and they could be moved tomorrow.

Shen Xiaochuan stood in the center of the square, watching people carrying buckets of water, washing vegetables, and cooking, with smoke curling up from the chimneys. The newly arrived refugees also began to get busy; some were building stoves, and others were weaving straw mats.

A little boy in a gray robe walked over, holding a bowl of water in his hand.

"My Lord, my mom asked me to bring this to you."

Shen Xiaochuan took it and drank it in one gulp.

"What's your name?"

"Little Stone."

"How old are you?"

"Nine years old."

"Do you want to help me do things?"

The little boy puffed out his chest: "Yes! I can run errands and carry things!"

"Good."

Shen Xiaochuan patted his head: "Report to the registration office tomorrow and collect your work uniform."

Little Stone grinned and skipped back to his mother.

Shen Xiaochuan looked up at the sky. The stars had not yet appeared, but the God Domain channel was already scrolling endlessly.

"Is God Shen recruiting?"

"Seeking to be an affiliate! I have blueprints!"

"Saw the announcement, you're awesome, brother!"

"Heard you got water over there? Is that true?"

He didn't reply and simply muted the channel.

In the real world, inside a residential building, a computer screen glowed with red light. A news pop-up appeared:

【Trace amounts of Spiritual Qi fluctuations detected in the eastern region, source unknown】

【Relevant departments have intervened to investigate】

Immediately after, an encrypted message was sent to terminal number HX-07:

"Target God Kingdom upgraded, confirmed to have a resonance effect with reality. Suggest initiating Level 1 observation protocol."

Beside the computer, a cup of tea was still steaming.

Shen Xiaochuan knew nothing of this. He crouched at the location of the Eye of Sweet Spring, his palm against the ground. The soil was moist, and he could clearly feel the flow of the underground water vein.

"Must plan irrigation canals tomorrow."

He said, "Plant the first batch of grain."

Chen Yan walked over: "Lord God, the Thorn Barrier has been installed, at the third section of the south wall."

"Take me to see it."

The two arrived at the south wall. The bronze fragment had been embedded into the wall base, and dense phantoms of sharp spikes appeared on the surface.

Shen Xiaochuan took out one hundred faith points and inputted them into it.

Hum—

The entire wall shook slightly, the spikes turned into solid entities, half a meter long, shimmering with a cold light.

"Impressive."

Chen Yan stepped back: "Whoever crashes into this will be pierced through."

"It's not just for defense."

Shen Xiaochuan said, "It can also reflect damage. Next time the enemy attacks the city, let them taste it."

He patted the wall and turned to leave.

On the way, a few newly arrived refugees were setting up tents. Seeing him pass by, they immediately stopped and bowed. He nodded slightly without stopping.

Returning to the command shed, he took out a sheet of white paper.

"The first thing tomorrow: open the warehouse to cook, add an extra meal for everyone. Second, organize a stone-mining team; I want to build barracks and residential houses. Third, find ten literate people to form a recording group to detail everything that happens every day."

Chen Yan noted the points: "There are still unsearched areas in Lin Ku's temple. Should we go again?"

"Wait."

Shen Xiaochuan said, "I am currently gaining one faith point per second; sooner or later, I will be able to buy the ruins. But for now—"

He looked toward the lit area outside the camp, "People are more important than things."

He blew out the oil lamp.

In the darkness, only his voice remained low and firm.

"I want to make this place somewhere no one can take away."

Chen Yan stood at the door, seeing the Lord God's eyes shining brightly in the night.

Shen Xiaochuan opened a brand-new notebook and wrote the first line:

"God Kingdom Calendar, First Day of the First Year."