78: Unlock the Lord's Mansion

Zhou Zhi's face bloomed with a smile upon hearing Mo Yan's praise, even happier than if he had eaten it himself: "It's good that you like it, my Lord. The ingredients are mainly good."

"In the future, I will diligently research more Ling food recipes and strive to make even better ones!"

After the meal, Gun Gun's belly was a full circle round, and he lay slumped in the chair, grunting.

His small paws would occasionally touch his round belly, letting out satisfied burps.

Mo Yan felt a gentle energy nourishing his body.

Compared to ordinary food, the recovery effect and comfort brought by this Ling food were on a completely different level.

It seems that recruiting this Ling Chef was the right decision.

Just then, a System notification sounded in his mind.

"Tip: You have consumed a large amount of Spiritual Qi-containing food, and your stamina has been fully restored!"

"Tip: You have consumed Spiritual Qi-containing food, and your Spiritual Power has increased by 1 point!"

"Tip: Gun Gun has consumed a large amount of Spiritual Qi-containing food, and his stamina has been fully restored!"

"......"

"Hmm?"

Mo Yan was slightly startled.

Eating a meal could actually directly increase Spiritual Power?!

He glanced at Gun Gun, who was slumped beside him, grunting. This little guy also gained 1 point of Spiritual Power.

"This Ling Chef... the surprises he brings are greater than imagined," Mo Yan thought to himself.

From now on, the Yu Shan Workshop will need special attention.

It can not only improve the diet of the territory's residents but also enhance the stamina recovery of Soldiers and assist in Cultivation. It's simply killing multiple birds with one stone.

He looked at Zhou Zhi; this boy has great potential.

"Zhou Zhi."

"Ah? My Lord, do you have any other instructions?" Zhou Zhi quickly straightened his body, looking nervously at Mo Yan.

"From now on, I will prioritize the supply of ingredients for the Yu Shan Workshop."

"If you need any special ingredients or have any new ideas, you can report directly to Lu Mingyuan."

"I only have one request."

Zhou Zhi swallowed: "Please speak, my Lord!"

"Make more, better, and more Spiritual Qi-rich food." Mo Yan's gaze was deep. "Everyone in the territory needs them."

"I will have Aunt Zhao cooperate with you."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhi's eyes instantly lit up, and his chest straightened a bit.

"Yes, I will do my best and not disappoint my Lord's expectations!"

He seemed to see countless rare ingredients beckoning to him, and he saw a future where his cooking skills would advance by leaps and bounds.

Mo Yan looked at Zhou Zhi's energetic appearance and nodded in satisfaction.

It's time to see the changes after the Yu Shan Workshop upgraded.

With a thought, Mo Yan brought up the Yu Shan Workshop's building interface.

"Yu Shan Workshop"

"Rank: Lv3"

"Quality: Rare"

"Type: Special Building"

"Current Functions:"

"Head Chef: Zhou Zhi (Ling Chef · Elementary)"

"Sous Chef: Aunt Zhao (Chef · Elementary)"

"Ingredient Preservation: The maximum storage limit for ingredients in the workshop has been increased to 200,000 units."

"Rare quality and below ingredients will have their spoilage rate significantly reduced in this environment."

"Special Functions:"

"1. Ling food Research: Can consume ingredients and Primeval Stones to research new Ling food recipes."

"(Currently researchable: Recipes of common quality and below, with a chance to unlock recipes containing Spiritual Power and temporary buff effects, such as: temporarily increasing a small amount of attack power, defense power, recovery speed, etc.)"

"Upgrade Requirements (Lv3 -> Lv4): wood x9000, stone x5200, iron ore x700, Primeval Stone x100"

"Prosperity: +50 -> 60"

"Ling food Research..." Mo Yan's fingertip lightly tapped on the light screen, entering the research interface.

The interface listed several gray recipe names, with "Researchable" marked next to them.

"Powerful Steamed Bun"

"Research Requirements: Flour x100, Beast Meat x20, Primeval Stone x1"

"Effect: Temporarily increases a small amount of strength after consumption."

"Success Rate: 70%"

"Light Body Rice Porridge"

"Research Requirements: Rice x100, Clear Water x20, Primeval Stone x1"

"Effect: Temporarily increases a small amount of agility after consumption."

"Success Rate: 70%"

"Iron Wall Soup"

"Research Requirements: Beast Bone x50, Common Herb x10, Primeval Stone x2"

"Effect: Temporarily increases a small amount of defense after consumption."

"Success Rate: 70%"

Mo Yan's gaze swept over the recipes, finally settling on the Powerful Steamed Bun.

Increasing strength is simple and direct, providing the most intuitive improvement to the Soldiers' combat power.

"This one it is."

"Tip: You are missing Flour x100. Do you want to automatically purchase it from the Mall for 10 gold coins?"

Mo Yan looked at the prompt on the light screen and muttered to himself, "Automatic purchase?"

This System is becoming increasingly intelligent, even wanting to save him the step of purchasing.

Ten gold coins were a trifle to him.

"Purchase."

"Tip: 100 Flour has been purchased for 10 gold coins."

"Remaining Time: 29 minutes 59 seconds"

At the same time, Zhou Zhi, by the stove, suddenly looked up, his eyes bursting with excitement.

"Researching new recipes? That's great!"

Mo Yan closed the interface; the necessary tasks had been completed.

It was convenient, but relying on the System Mall to purchase basic supplies was not a long-term solution.

As the number of his territory's residents grew and the territory expanded, the demand for various supplies would only increase.

If one day the System Mall disappeared or raised its prices, he would be in a passive position.

"It seems that establishing a complete production line and achieving self-sufficiency in basic materials must be put on the agenda."

Especially food items, such as flour and rice, he had to find a way to produce them himself.

He had a faint premonition that after the novice trial ended, this all-powerful System Mall might undergo some changes.

Being prepared is always the right thing to do.

Mo Yan withdrew his thoughts. Not long after he walked out of the Yu Shan Workshop, a rapid series of System notifications suddenly sounded in his mind.

The territory upgrade, which he had been waiting for several hours, was finally complete!

"Boom—"

A pillar of light, more majestic and vast than any previous building upgrade, condensed without dissipating, reaching straight into the sky and dyeing the clouds on the horizon with a sacred golden hue.

Immediately afterward, golden halos spread out like ripples.

"Tip: Territory upgrade complete. Current Territory Rank: Lv4"

"Tip: Territory area expanded to 400 meters x 400 meters."

"Tip: Population cap increased to 500."

"Tip: New buildings unlocked: Lords Manor, Bathhouse."

"Tip: Building upgrade cap unlocked: Lv3 -> Lv4."

"Tip: Territory Prosperity requirement increased. Prosperity needed for next Rank (Lv5): 1000 points."

Mo Yan paused.

Finally, Lv4!

The territory's area, from the original 300 meters x 300 meters, suddenly expanded to 400 meters x 400 meters, almost doubling in size.

The population cap also soared from 200 people to 500 people!

This allowed him to recruit more Soldiers and specialized talents.

The Rank cap for all buildings also increased to Lv4.

A new round of infrastructure construction could begin.

Mo Yan's gaze finally fell on the two newly acquired building blueprints.

"Lords Manor"

"Type: Lord's Exclusive Building"

"Construction Requirements: wood x5000, stone x5000, iron ore x500, Primeval Stone x50, gold coins x1000"

"Construction Time: 3 hours"

"Special Effects:"

"1. Comfortable Residence: The Lord resides in the Manor, which has 10 rooms."

"2. Council Hall: The Manor has a Council Hall where core members of the territory can be convened to discuss important matters."

"Description: The Lord's exclusive residence, representing the face and core of the territory, possesses multiple auxiliary functions. +50 Prosperity."

"Finally, I don't have to live in the Ice Crystal Cabin anymore."

As the territory's population grew, he also needed a more presentable residence and a place to handle affairs.