Chapter 24

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Zhang Dongyun needed 1,000 Guarding EXP and Construction EXP for the first expansion and upgrade of the fortress.

Now that he had completed all three guarding quests and accumulated enough Upgrade EXP, he was only left with the construction quests.

The first two construction quests were simple, and he had accumulated 300 Upgrade EXP.

As the person who had designed the game in his previous life, Zhang Dongyun remembered that the third construction quest, the quest to obtain a population of ten thousand, would reward 800 Upgrade Exp due to its difficulty.

Together with the previous 300 points, his Construction EXP would exceed 1,000.

At that time, the scope of the Impenetrable Fortress would successfully expand for the first time.

Now, he was all ready except for what was crucial, and he was just waiting for enough population to fill his fortress.

Zhang Dongyun was in a jovial mood and felt that the captured Thunderclap Sect’s Elder Wu Qiong was very pleasing to the eye.

“I was ignorant and have offended you. Please forgive me, sir.” Wu Qiong felt terrified as he faced Zhang Dongyun, who appeared as the old man in black.

Zhang Dongyun was expressionless. “It seems that the Thunderclap Sect has a death wish.”

Wu Qiong felt even more shocked to have his identity exposed.

“You have misunderstood, sir. I actually came here to offer my service,” Wu Qiong hurriedly explained. “I came here at night because I did not want to be discovered by too many people.”

It’s true that he doesn’t want to be discovered, but not necessarily so about offering his service, Zhang Dongyun thought.

If he and Chang’an Fortress were not powerful, and the intruders were lucky enough to sneak in and escape, they would probably have other plans.

However, Zhang Dongyun did not dwell too much on this.

The old man in black merely sized up Wu Qiong with interest. “Who do you not want to be discovered by?”

Wu Qiong smiled bitterly. “I dare not to hide anything from you, sir. I acted cautiously mainly to avoid… my sect master.”

Zhang Dongyun had a calm expression. “You want to rebel against him and replace him as the Thunderclap Sect Master?”

Wu Qiong tried to explain the facts. “It isn’t that I want to cause chaos, but Senior Brother… has acted improperly and might bring calamity upon the sect.”

Zhang Dongyun found it unbelievable. “What makes you say that?”

Wu Qiong answered in a low voice with a firm expression, “Ever since Senior Brother took over our sect, the Thunderclap Sect has indeed grown and became one of the most powerful forces in Tongzhou Prefecture.

“However, in recent years, I have noticed that goods and materials have been in the red, and their whereabouts are unknown. He is also in secret contact with mysterious people.

“He has indeed contributed over the years, but the person behind him likely helped him. In return, Senior Brother has almost emptied our sect.”

Wu Qiong was entrenched with deep resentment and hatred. “Although our sect is small, it is also the hard work that our ancestors of past generations have passed down. How can it be someone’s puppet?”

The old man in black in front of him chuckled softly. “There are gains and losses in the world. Where do you get the confidence that you wouldn’t become a puppet like him?”

Wu Qiong’s smile carried a hint of cautiousness and flattery. “Before I entered the fortress today, I actually stayed in Qinzhou Prefecture outside the mountains for some time.”

Zhang Dongyun thought, This guy came prepared.

“The Cold Mountain Sect should have pledged allegiance to Chang’an Fortress. I have been observing them for a long time. Although they are transporting manpower and items to the mountains, they’re just ordinary livelihood supplies.”

Wu Qiong added, “After that, I snuck into the mountains and arrived in the White Cloud Abyss. I watched them working hard on the fields outside the fortress from a distance. Although the Cold Mountain Sect disciples are working hard, you never exploited them.”

After saying that, he added with a forced smile in embarrassment, “I took the chance and thought that I hid very well. Little did I expect that you would see through my movements and identity.”

Fortress Lord Zhang felt somewhat awkward.

He reckoned that Wu Qiong had observed the area outside the fortress too far away.

He actually did not notice that Wu Qiong had been hiding outside the fortress for such a long time.

A few days ago, the old bloody shadow demon had also happened to be in the fortress meditating and cultivating, so it did not patrol the area outside the fortress.

Zhang Dongyun was able to expose Wu Qiong’s background and identity all thanks to the system’s notification.

At this moment, Fortress Lord Zhang could only smile politely as he faced Wu Qiong’s flattery.

Of course, Wu Qiong only saw an old man in black with an aloof and arrogant smile.

“You are magnanimous and farsighted. As long as the Thunderclap Sect is loyal, I don’t think you will treat our sect badly.” Wu Qiong was fawning even more.

Zhang Dongyun said calmly, “There is room for anyone here who abides by the rules of Chang’an Fortress and obeys orders faithfully.”

He did not care whether the other party had anything up his sleeves, nor did he care about the backer behind the Thunderclap Sect Master.

The only thing he cared about was whether people were coming into his fortress.

The more people that came, and the stronger they were, the better it would be.

You’d better bow and submit in the fortress.

“Thank you, sir!” Wu Qiong was delighted. “The Thunderclap Sect is saved.”

Zhang Dongyun said unhurriedly, “But I wonder, how many people in the Thunderclap Sect have the same thoughts as you?

“You said that the Thunderclap Sect Master has been dealing with mysterious people and has shortchanged the sect. Is it possible that you were the only one kept in the dark when your fellow sect members knew about it?”

“That’s impossible!” Wu Qiong reassured him. “Please trust me, sir. Allow me to go back and contact my fellow sect members so that we can come to meet you.”

“I’ll see if you can provide any valuable information to me. For example…” With a thought from Zhang Dongyun, the black mist surrounding Wu Qiong dissipated.

“Information that interests me.”

Despite regaining freedom, Wu Qiong still had lingering fears.

The old man in black before him did not state what kind of information he wanted to know, so Wu Qiong could only rack his brains to dig up what he knew and told him everything.

When Zhang Dongyun allowed him to leave, Wu Qiong had not been able to figure out which piece of information had impressed the old man. He just rejoiced while being confused.

After going out of the fortress, he calmed his mind and left the White Cloud Abyss in the night.

The heavy-hearted Wu Qiong was walking along the road when something startled him.

He realized that many people were going in the opposite direction toward Dragon Ridge in a flurry.

These people looked malnourished and sickly with ragged clothing. Their gazes were numb, as though they were indifferent to everything in the world, but they scanned their surroundings, looking for anything that could fill their stomachs.

Refugees, vagrants… Wu Qiong’s heart moved.

Tongzhou was also part of Longbei County, so Wu Qiong had heard about the civil unrest.

But while he noticed the flow of vagrants, there seemed to be a difference.

These numb and miserable people seemed to have been drawn together by a life force as they ran toward the same goal in front of them and were filled with a last glimmer of hope.

Wu Qiong climbed up a small mountain ridge and looked in the distance from a higher elevation.

What he had seen just now was only the start.

In the distance, more people were migrating in an endless stream.

Wu Qiong suddenly realized something and turned back abruptly.

A vast number of vagrants were rushing to the mountains in Dragon Ridge.