Surround

After upgrading the Town Hall, it now exuded an air of grandeur and sophistication. No longer constructed from wood, it was entirely built from polished blue stone, each slab as smooth as a mirror, etched with intricate runes. Hao Tian tested its resilience by casting a fireball at it, but it left no mark, demonstrating its impressive defensive capabilities. However, such defense wasn't crucial for a core building—what mattered was its imposing presence.

The backyard buildings of the Town Hall had also been enhanced, becoming more refined and luxurious. Besides the main bedroom, several additional rooms had been added, including a secondary bedroom and a kitchen. There was also a small courtyard where Hao Tian planned to place a lounge chair and transplant a large tree, creating a shaded area where he could relax during his ample free time.

As usual, Hao Tian spent the night in the tender embrace of his soft, delicate maid, Sally. He woke up the next morning to the comforting fragrance of dreams. The desert folk had already started their day's work, with most chopping wood and a few heading to the stone mountain to mine stone. As the territory expanded and was upgraded to a town, the outermost forest grew closer to the stone mountain, now only about a thousand meters away. With one or two more upgrades, the forest would likely envelop the stone mountain, turning it into Hao Tian's exclusive mineral resource.

After enjoying a breakfast meticulously prepared by Sally, Hao Tian went to inspect his "iron mine." The site, originally a sand dune, had been overtaken by greenery, revealing patches of black crystal-like iron ore. With the territory's upgrade, this highland area had expanded and increased in height, showing potential to become a mountain rich in high-quality iron ore. More iron ore was now exposed, and even more lay beneath the surface. Though it wasn't yet ready for extraction, Hao Tian knew it was only a matter of time. This would make his territory even wealthier, ensuring a steady supply of refined iron for crafting equipment and upgrading special buildings.

By noon, a faint golden light descended upon Hao Tian, enveloping him as he leveled up again. Just as Butler Hoden had anticipated, Hao Tian's rate of advancement was astonishing, practically gaining a level a day. While Hoden had recently reached level nine, Hao Tian had swiftly caught up and was likely to surpass him soon, potentially becoming a king-level practitioner first. The experience Hao Tian shared from his growing army far exceeded what Hoden could gather alone. This expansion of his military force allowed them to hunt more monsters, resulting in a massive accumulation of experience for Hao Tian.

Not long after Hao Tian's level up, a distant caravan arrived near the stone mountain. Before they could encounter the stone miners, they were surrounded by a heavily armed contingent of Royal Knights. Fifteen Royal Judgment Knights led a large group of Royal Knights, encircling the caravan in tight layers. On the outermost perimeter, hundreds of desert coyotes growled, their bloodthirsty eyes fixed on every member of the caravan. Even Simon, the old wizard, a king-level mage, felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine. Despite his high rank, being surrounded by so many heavily armed knights and beasts spelled certain death.

"What is happening?" Simon wondered, baffled by the presence of such elite knights in this desolate desert. His companion, a woman with dark red, wavy hair, was equally perplexed, fearing for the safety of their caravan.

Stepping forward, Simon addressed the knights, "Honorable knights, we are a legitimate caravan from Forest City, en route to Vastian City to trade with the desert nobles. We intended to stop at the Golden Oasis for water. Why are you intercepting us? If we have intruded on a restricted area, we can leave immediately."

He spoke with humility, eager to avoid conflict with this formidable force.

A Royal Judgment Knight rode forward on a desert coyote over two meters long, an imposing figure despite the coyote's size. In a cold tone, the knight declared, "The Golden Oasis is our lord's territory. All trespassing caravans must undergo inspection."

Simon's face paled at the words, and the woman beside him looked equally distressed. An inspection in the desert, a lawless area, was unheard of and suggested a pretext for extortion or robbery.

"Our caravan is under the protection of the Forest City Merchants' Guild. You have no right—" the woman began, but her words were cut off by the sound of swords being drawn. The knights, without hesitation, unsheathed their swords, and the coyotes growled menacingly.

"Wait, wait..." Simon interjected, trying to defuse the situation.

At that moment, a figure in a mage's robe approached—it was Hoden, Hao Tian's butler. He glanced at the sweating Simon and the woman, then spoke, "The lord has ordered that you be escorted to the Golden Oasis."

"By the lord's command!" The Royal Knights parted, making way.

Hoden smiled warmly, "Please, follow us."

Simon and the woman exchanged resigned glances and reluctantly complied. Going to the Golden Oasis might offer a chance to escape unharmed, but refusing would surely provoke an attack from the knights.