Trigger special tasks

Late into the night, the elderly steward Horden and ten Royal Knights returned from their hunt. The expedition had been remarkably successful, with no unforeseen incidents. Notably, Horden had achieved a significant milestone: he had advanced to a Level 8 high-ranking mage. Although sandworms were common beasts with low levels and provided minimal experience, Horden's breakthrough was long overdue. His level had been at the cusp of advancement for years, but his old age and declining physical condition had impeded his progress. The recent accumulation of experience had finally shattered his level barrier.

With his promotion, Horden seemed rejuvenated. His once silver hair now showed hints of returning to its original black, as if he had been granted a second spring. Among the Royal Knights, two had advanced to Level 6, significantly boosting their combat power. Haotian, having "shared" a day's worth of experience, had also ascended from Level 4 to Level 5, an effortless advancement akin to leveling up while lying down.

All in all, the mood was jubilant.

"With this method of leveling up," Haotian thought, "as long as I continue to expand my army, reaching the Sanctuary level, or even the demigod level, should be a breeze!"

As he mused, Horden and the Royal Knights handed over their spoils: over a hundred intact sandworm skins, nearly a thousand teeth suitable for crafting daggers, and more than a hundred gleaming gold coins. They also brought back the bodies of two desert gray wolves.

"Lord Haotian," one of the Level 6 Royal Knights reported respectfully, "we encountered these gray wolves on our way back. We saw many more in the distance. They have a leader and are quite cunning. Despite killing some of their pack, they did not attack recklessly. I believe these predators have marked us, and we might face a wolf pack attack tonight."

As the knight finished speaking, a notification appeared in Haotian's mind:

[Special Quest Triggered – Wolf Pack Assault!] [Quest Info: The Golden Oasis is within the activity range of the desert gray wolves. Your occupation of the oasis has enraged the pack leader. In one hour, the wolf pack will launch an attack on your territory!] [Quest Objective: Defend your territory and repel the wolf pack.] [Quest Rewards: 300 gold coins, one random territorial building blueprint.]

"Your prediction was spot on," Haotian said to the knight. "Take your men and rest well. In an hour, we will face a defensive battle."

"At your command, great lord!" The knights saluted and withdrew.

"Do you really think the wolf pack will attack our territory?" Horden asked, his face serious.

"Yes, I can already sense the impending battle," Haotian replied. "You should restore your mana as well. We may face a fierce fight soon."

"Understood," Horden nodded solemnly.

Haotian then turned to the Royal Knight Training Ground. With the recent haul of over a hundred gold coins, his total now exceeded one thousand, enough to upgrade the building.

He did not hesitate and opened the upgrade panel.

[Upgrade the current military building for 1000 gold coins?] [Yes] [No]

"Upgrade!" Haotian confirmed.

A golden light emerged from the void, enveloping the training ground. The ground shook as the training square expanded. When the light faded, the Royal Knight Hall stood more grandiose than before.

[Royal Knight Training Ground] [Level: 2] [Recruitable Units: Royal Knights] [Recruitment Capacity: 30 Royal Knights per day.] [Upgrade Requirements: 3000 gold coins] [Special Note 1: Upgrading the building allows for recruiting more units.] [Special Note 2: As cavalry, Royal Knights can significantly enhance their combat power with suitable mounts.]

"A Level 2 training ground allows for recruiting thirty Royal Knights! This was worth the wait!" Haotian's face showed a hint of excitement.

At his command, thirty fully armed Royal Knights appeared in the training square, exuding a strong sense of battle readiness and lethal intent. These newly recruited knights were all Level 5 intermediate professionals. Battle experience was not a concern, as Horden had assured him that each knight was a seasoned veteran.

"Greetings, great lord!" The knights approached in formation, kneeling before Haotian. As summoned troops, they had absolute loyalty to him, willing to follow any order, even to their deaths.

Haotian raised his hand. "Rise! Prepare your equipment and get ready for the upcoming battle!"

"Swear allegiance to the lord!" the knights shouted in unison.

"Excellent," Haotian nodded with satisfaction. Their demeanor and discipline surpassed even the regular army of the Stanlo Kingdom, rivaled only by its elite forces.

"It's around ten o'clock now," Haotian calculated. "In two hours, a new day will begin, and I can recruit another thirty Royal Knights."

Upgrading the training ground to Level 3 would require 3000 gold coins, an impossible amount to gather in a single day. Additionally, he planned to upgrade the village hall to expand his territory, which would also consume some of his gold. Thus, he intended to recruit the thirty knights immediately after midnight to increase their night-time hunting capacity.

As time passed, a chilling wolf howl pierced the night, echoing from all directions and growing more intense. The first desert gray wolf appeared on a dune at the oasis's edge, followed by more wolves, forming a shadowy wall under the moonlight, encircling the Golden Oasis. On the far side of the sapphire lake, wolves began infiltrating the oasis, moving in packs along the shore towards the village hall.

"There are at least several hundred desert gray wolves!" Horden gasped, his face pale. "We've invited a wolf disaster!"