Long Zai Tian stepped out of his manor with the first threads of dawn, feeling an unprecedented vitality in his body after reaching the fourth stage. He found Li Si waiting for him along with the Gold-grade man he had summoned yesterday.
Li Si and the man bowed, and the man said with deep respect, "Your servant, Gao Yuan, greets the Great Emperor. I have learned that by Your Majesty's grace, I will be responsible for the village's internal affairs with Master Li Si, and I vow to give my soul for the sake of Qin's rise."
"Ah yes, Gao Yuan, you will be a civil official with Li Si. Come, let us change your profession at the profession change platform. Tell me, Gao Yuan, have you started practicing the mantra?"
"Yes, my lord, and I am now in the strength training stage, Your Majesty," Gao Yuan replied politely as he walked with Long Zai Tian and Li Si toward the [profession change] platform.
"Yes, I know you are in the strength training stage, I can see your aura. And you, Li Si, well done; it is good that you reached the flesh training stage. My advice to you, when you break through to the viscera training stage, is to bathe in cold water for half an hour. This helps the internal organs adapt to the effects of Qi during cultivation…" Long Zai Tian said.
"I understand, my lord, is that what you did then? But my lord, what is your level? I cannot determine your aura," Li Si asked in wonder.
"First, Li Si, I did not do that; I did not need cold water and broke through immediately. Second, you cannot determine my aura because I am stronger than you; I am in the muscle alteration stage."
"Truly powerful and fast, Your Majesty. You only cultivated for one day and already reached the muscle alteration level. Wonderful," Li Si said deeply.
Long Zai Tian, Li Si, and Gao Yuan arrived at the platform, and Gao Yuan changed his profession to [Civilian Official {A}]. After he completed the transition, Bai Qi approached them from his residence, radiating energy and vitality. Long Zai Tian looked at him and saw that he was in the early stage of Viscera Training.
Bai Qi arrived, cupped his hands, and said, "Good morning, Your Majesty."
"Hmm, good morning, Bai Qi. Look, this is Gao Yuan; his rank is Gold, and he holds dual professions as a soldier and a civilian official. Yesterday, I changed his profession to a soldier and he learned the mantra, and today Li Si and I changed his profession to a civilian official to assist Li Si with village affairs. Gao Yuan, this is the High Marshal, Bai Qi. Come and greet him."
Gao Yuan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and greeted Bai Qi, saying, "I am under your care, Marshal."
"Very well, a talented youth. Good," Bai Qi remarked.
"Now, Gao Yuan, you are to stay with Li Si and learn the matters of state governance," Long Zai Tian continued. "Bai Qi, come with me to summon new residents. We must increase the number of soldiers and conduct exploratory campaigns in the forest. Let's go."
Long Zai Tian, accompanied by Bai Qi, Li Si, and Gao Yuan, went to the [Origin] and summoned the residents. Twenty-seven people appeared: twelve able-bodied men, eight young boys, and seven girls ranging from their teens to their thirties. Two of them were Silver-grade, a boy and a girl. Long Zai Tian welcomed them to the village, and they all cupped their hands and greeted him.
Long Zai Tian, alongside Bai Qi, took the twelve men to the [Profession Change] platform and turned them into soldiers. After the conversion, he entrusted Bai Qi with their training and took the other soldiers to launch an exploratory campaign in the forest.
Long Zai Tian and the soldiers entered the forest, beginning their inspection and marking the trees every hundred meters. They continued their march, spotting numerous rabbits, deer, and birds, but these were not their target. Long Zai Tian and his men pressed on until they ventured beyond the village territory, covering an area of 51 square kilometers. They walked through the pitch-black darkness caused by the dense canopy of the Forbidden Horror Forest.
After several kilometers of walking, they reached the top of a hill and spotted short, ugly green creatures in the distance. These were the typical Goblins. Long Zai Tian observed them closely from the hilltop; there were about 300 Goblins. In the center of their village stood a mysterious, blood-colored altar featuring a statue of a three-horned demon. The Goblins' behavior was crude, as they fought amongst themselves over a piece of meat. Upon further inspection, Long Zai Tian saw that about 60 of them were elderly, 120 were women and children, and approximately 120 were capable of combat.
Long Zai Tian ordered a soldier to go and bring Bai Qi and the rest of the troops, while he remained behind, keeping a watchful eye on the Goblin village from the top of the hill.
After about an hour, the soldier returned accompanied by Bai Qi and the twelve new soldiers, carrying their bows and swords.
Bai Qi approached Long Zai Tian and said, "Your Majesty, I came as quickly as possible the moment I received the news. Are they dangerous?"
"See for yourself," Long Zai Tian replied. Bai Qi looked down at the village and analyzed them just as Long Zai Tian had.
Bai Qi said, "300 individuals. 120 women and children, 60 elderly, 120 combatants... I wonder, what is the best plan to take them down with our small numbers? We have 35 soldiers, and they haven't gained enough experience yet. What is Your Majesty's opinion?"
"In my view, we should follow the 'divide and conquer' strategy. They will eventually get hungry and head out to hunt for food; that will be our strike. We just need luck to be on our side when they emerge."
"Hmm, very well, My Lord. Then we shall remain on this hill and await our moment to strike."