The Grand Plan of Fan Domain Takes Shape

"Un... unemployed...?" The guard of the Jiangnan Shui clan stood by the bridge, his face pale with bewildered panic and his legs trembling slightly. Just moments earlier, Chen Fan had approached him with an affable smile, asking him to notify the clan head. He had felt terrified at the unexpected chance to speak with such a prominent figure, but inwardly he had grumbled a little to himself: rumors truly did people dirty. Word outside had it that Chen Fan had been crossed by the Dan Sect one day and wiped them out the very next, as if he were an insatiable butcher. Yet seeing him just now, wasn't he actually quite pleasant? However, shortly after the clan head rushed over with a band of core members, every single one of them was slaughtered. The Jiangnan Shui clan had been wiped from existence, and the bridges they had built would soon crumble into ruins. There would be no bridges between Jiangnan and Jiangbei. "Hurry up and move, Brother Qianming!" Beside him, the other Shui clan guards urged in desperation, "Hurry back to Jiangnan while the bridge is still standing! Once it collapses, you'll never make it back! Do you really want to stay stuck in Jiangbei forever? Jiangbei is a godforsaken wasteland where birds don't even shit!" "I..." The guard instinctively ran a few steps after them before suddenly halting, his expression hesitant. "Even if we go back, we won't find work anytime soon. Didn't Domain Lord Chen say earlier that he can rebuild the bridges? When that happens, he'll definitely need guards to watch them, right? I might be able to land a job in Fan Domain." "Why don't you guys stay too?" "Let's stay together!" "Rebuild my ass!" The panicked guard snapped, his temper flaring. "For so many years, only those few factions knew how to build bridges. Do you think building a bridge is child's play? If anyone could do it, the Jiangnan Shui clan wouldn't have held a monopoly on toll collection—everyone would have grabbed a slice of the pie!" "Are you really not coming?" "If you don't run now, you'll be too late! That Domain Lord Chen was obviously venting in anger! You don't honestly expect him to build a bridge, do you?" "Forget it!" "I'm out of here, Brother Qianming. We'll take care of your family for you in the future, but I don't have extra ghost stones either. At most, I can promise they won't starve, and if we have to flee for our lives, I'll take them along. That's the best I can do!" With that, the remaining Shui clan guards wasted no more time, sprinting across the bridge toward Jiangnan. Only the guard who had spoken with Chen Fan remained behind. The surrounding merchant caravans exchanged glances, turned around, and retreated toward Jiangnan as well. They pulled out voice transmission talismans to contact their respective factions for instructions. Caravans traded to earn ghost stones. But if the bridge collapsed and stranded them in Jiangbei with no way back, the losses would far outweigh any gains. Earning a few ghost stones wasn't worth throwing away their lives. *** The Jiangnan Shui clan's compound was easy to find. The Nine-Five Dragon Carriage had already landed inside. With the clan's core leadership slain at the bridgehead, only servants remained. The moment they saw the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage descend, they fled in all directions. Shao Qiu and Monkey stepped down from the carriage and began sweeping the premises. So long as they found the building blueprint for the Bridge, Chen Fan could construct bridges for Fan Domain. Chen Fan sat in a chair, flipping through the ledger in his hands—the financial records of the Jiangnan Shui clan. After glancing over a few pages, he could not help but chuckle dryly in irritation. Since the end of the Jiangnan rainy season, the Shui clan's revenue had skyrocketed. On one hand, they had gained a total monopoly after the two other factions controlling bridge operations were eradicated during the rainy season. On the other hand, Jiangbei had risen, and countless merchant caravans crossed their bridge to travel north. In a sense, a significant portion of the Shui clan's booming revenue had come directly from piggybacking on the success of Fan Domain. Chen Fan never minded others riding his coattails, but an insatiable faction like the Shui clan, which prospered on his back yet grew excessively greedy, had no reason to exist. "Found them!" Soon, Monkey strode over. "There are several building blueprints here. I don't know if any are for bridges since I can't really read them well. Aside from that, there's quite a pile of ghost stones—at a rough glance, probably over two hundred thousand." "Mm." Chen Fan took the blueprints and skimmed through them. One of them was indeed the Bridge building blueprint, while the rest were basic structures. "Quehou, come with me to build the bridge." "Shao Qiu, stay here with Weiwei and ransack the place clean." "Understood." Chen Fan had brought not only Sick Monkey and Weiwei but also Shao Qiu on this trip specifically to handle unforeseen situations. With Shao Qiu's methods, slaughtering those who had no fortified structures to hide behind was laughably effortless—hardly different from slaughtering chickens. *** [Exotic Treasure: Bridge] [Grade: Green] [Effect: Can construct a river-crossing bridge up to 300 meters in length. The longer the bridge, the more ghost stones required.] At the bridgehead, amid the pool of fresh blood, the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage touched down. Chen Fan stepped out, glanced at the bridge covered in cracks, walked over to an open space beside it, and crushed the Bridge building blueprint in his hand. Soon, a phantom bridge composed of white lines slowly materialized across the water. As liquid condensed from ghost stones poured into the phantom, it rapidly solidified. A brand-new bridge reappeared above the river, spanning forty meters. Construction cost: 400 ghost stones. "Talk about a massive return on investment," Chen Fan murmured as he looked at the new bridge belonging to Fan Domain. A single bridge cost only 400 ghost stones, whereas the toll collected by the Shui clan in a single day far exceeded that amount. Constructing such a bridge required an exotic treasure of any grade in addition to the 400 ghost stones to serve as an anchor. He had plundered plenty of exotic treasures from the Shui clan. Tossing in one of the lowest value was no trouble at all. Upgrading required 100 ghost stones and another exotic treasure of any grade. Rank 2. The bridge deck widened slightly, and the overall structure became sturdier. A panel popped up before him. [Bridge upgraded to Rank 2.] [This building has no specialization branches.] [With each upgrade, the bridge becomes sturdier and the deck widens.] A sturdier bridge meant a reduced risk of collapse when facing gales, torrential waves, floods, or mudslides. The Shui clan's original bridge had only been Rank 1. The upgrade cost was hardly expensive, yet the Shui clan had been unwilling to spend it—perhaps believing that extra sturdiness was pointless, or perhaps ignorant of the upgrade requirements. After tossing in nine exotic treasures in succession and expending a total of 5,000 ghost stones, the bridge before him reached Rank 10. Maximum rank. The change upon reaching max rank was dramatic. The entire structure was exceedingly sturdy, reinforced by several massive piers beneath the deck that gave it an imposing presence. The roadway had grown far wider, and ornate relief carvings adorned the railings. It looked vastly more majestic and grand. Compared to the crumbling bridge beside it, they were on completely different levels. [Bridge upgraded to Rank 10.] [Maximum rank reached; further upgrades unavailable.] [Unlocked Max Rank Effect: Tailwind. All living beings traversing the bridge receive the Tailwind buff for twelve shichen (twenty-four hours), slightly increasing their movement speed.] "Nice." Chen Fan chuckled as he looked at the bridge. This was Fan Domain's first bridge, marking another step forward in expanding its borders. Wherever the copper pipes reached was the territory of Fan Domain. Connected by copper pipes, this bridge formally counted as a Fan Domain structure. The Bridge was a zero-energy-consumption structure. Once built, it required no ongoing ghost stones to maintain, nor did it need to be placed within the initial campsite boundaries. Compared to other structures confined to a campsite, it was quite special. This was also Fan Domain's eighth max-rank structure. Its effect was pretty good. He just wondered whether it could boost the speed of the high-speed rail. In truth, a Rank 1 bridge would have sufficed. But since Fan Domain was replacing the Jiangnan Shui clan and assuming the responsibility for all bridges connecting Jiangnan and Jiangbei, it had to look grand. If a max-rank bridge was an option, why settle for Rank 1? At the very least, this bridge with the highest traffic volume had to look imposing. Chen Fan glanced left and right, his gaze finally resting on the trembling Shui clan guard standing not far away. He beckoned, "You. Come here." "D-Domain Lord Chen!" The guard hurried over in large strides, standing nervously in place. "Are you willing to join Fan Domain?" "...Huh?" The guard froze in astonishment. Then, wild joy surged in his eyes. "Willing! Yes, of course I'm willing!" "Good." Chen Fan nodded and pointed at the bridge nearby. "Fan Domain will establish an outpost here to oversee all the bridges upstream and downstream. In a moment, I will go downstream to build several more bridges." "You will serve as the stationmaster of this outpost." "If you lack manpower, recruit locally yourself." "I'll grant you ten quotas. Those ten will also be official members of Fan Domain, with a monthly stipend of 100 ghost stones. In a few days, Fan Domain will deliver your command token, standard-issue uniforms, and a few Skeleton Horses." "Do you have any objections?" "None! None at all!" The guard beamed with uncontainable joy. Even as he tried his hardest to suppress his grin and appear dignified, his mouth refused to close. "A hundred ghost stones is already a fortune! I've never earned that much in my life!" "Don't worry, Domain Lord Chen, I'll definitely get this done right!" "..." Chen Fan gave the guard a wry look. "The monthly stipend of 100 ghost stones is for the other ten people, not you." "You're the stationmaster, so your stipend is higher." "Three hundred ghost stones a month." "Lower the crossing toll for ordinary merchant caravans to 1 ghost stone. Don't charge too much; it hinders communication between the two regions. The high-speed rail doesn't need to pay any toll." "Someone will come at regular intervals every month to collect the tolls." "Everything else goes on as usual: inspect the upstream and downstream bridges regularly for signs of collapse, and report any emergencies immediately." "I don't have spare voice transmission talismans on hand right now. In a few days, someone will come to fully equip you." "Any other questions?" "None whatsoever! I accept all arrangements from Fan Domain!" the guard declared with absolute resolve, enunciating every word. Green smoke was practically rising from his ancestral graves! When he went back, he'd definitely burn the finest offerings to his ancestors! A monthly stipend of 300 ghost stones... Just thinking about it left him breathless. He knew that outposts in Jiangbei paid a monthly stipend of 10 ghost stones, and while conditions in Jiangnan were better, outpost stationmasters there only earned 20 ghost stones. Most importantly, being a stationmaster was dangerous work—stationed out in the desolate wilderness with nothing around except ghost creatures. He had worked as a guard for the Jiangnan Shui clan, merely collecting tolls without much danger, earning around 10 ghost stones a month, which had been plenty for his needs. Yet now... Three hundred ghost stones! A thirtyfold pay raise! He had always heard that people in Fan Domain worked like fiends. Everyone who visited Fan City said that Fan Domain members labored with relentless passion, completely unlike the sluggish, lifeless subordinates of other factions. He hadn't understood it before. He could understand Fan Domain being powerful, but why would its people work with such fervor? Now he understood! Who the hell wouldn't bust their ass for this kind of pay?! Three hundred ghost stones... How on earth was he supposed to spend it all?! "..." Chen Fan smiled and said nothing more. Right beside the bridgehead, he erected a Rank 3 ghost fire, constructed a 100-meter-long Rank 2 wall forming a square enclosure around the flame, and built a few stone huts inside. A simple outpost was complete. A Rank 2 wall was sturdy enough to withstand most low-tier ghost creatures. He then mounted ten Rank 5 cannon towers atop the wall. The defensive strength of this outpost was higher than that of other Fan Domain outposts. By linking it directly to the copper pipes, it was officially incorporated into Fan Domain's campsite territory, unlike standard standalone outposts. After all, this was a vital transportation hub—a strategic chokepoint that could not be neglected. "Once you receive your command token, you will have the authority to control these walls and cannon towers." "Understood!" With that finished, Chen Fan returned to the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage to build the downstream bridges. Wherever he spotted an existing bridge belonging to the Jiangnan Shui clan, he constructed a new one right beside it. There were plenty of guards stationed downstream who still had no idea what had happened, watching him from a distance without daring to approach. A total of seven bridges. He upgraded all of them to Rank 10. It barely cost much, and he dumped all the low-grade exotic treasures looted from the Shui clan alongside the junk treasures piled in the carriage into the upgrades. His present conduct carried the distinct flair of an upstart rolling in wealth. The outside world had no idea what stipend he paid Fan Domain members. In reality, ever since the Silk Road began yielding immense profits, he had raised the monthly stipend for all standard Fan Domain members to 100 ghost stones. Those holding minor positions, such as stationmasters, received 300 ghost stones, while higher-ranking positions received 500. As for Pavilion Masters and Vice Pavilion Masters, their monthly income was naturally even higher, though at that level they no longer simply talked about stipends. Merits were rewarded, major operations came with bonuses, and various welfare perks were provided. He had no idea what other factions paid their subordinates, but what he offered was undoubtedly generous. Why did Wang Kui have so many grievances against the Qiuhe Wang family? Wasn't it because his pay had remained stagnant at 10 ghost stones a month for thirteen years? If you wanted people to risk their lives and work tirelessly, the most effective method was to raise their pay. So far, the results were excellent. Soon, all eight bridges were completed. The seven downstream bridges were currently unmanned; once that fellow recruited enough people, he would assign guards to collect tolls. Chen Fan returned to the Shui clan compound. The plundering was completely finished, yielding 323,000 ghost stones. "Quite wealthy." It was a timely replenishment. He hadn't brought many ghost stones on this trip; laying paths could draw upon the ghost stones stored in the campsite warehouse, which he could access from anywhere within Fan Domain's territory. However, building the seven downstream bridges outside Fan Domain's initial camp had consumed the ghost stones carried aboard the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage—funds originally reserved to activate the Heaven and Earth Chessboard in case of emergencies. Now, his reserves were thoroughly replenished, leaving him plenty wealthy. The road ahead was clear. Paving resumed. Under the watchful eyes of the onlookers, the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage drove onto Jiangbei Bridge once more, continuing to lay copper pipes southward into Jiangnan. Phantom copper pipes solidified rapidly, sinking into Jiangbei Bridge. This was the name he had given to this bridge. It was also the only bridge he named. After all, as Fan Domain's first bridge, it was worth commemorating. Before departing, he had asked for the guard's name—Zhang Qianming. After offering a few words of instruction, Chen Fan lingered no longer. Once the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage faded into the distance, the surrounding merchants couldn't hold back any longer and swarmed forward. "Brother, what did Domain Lord Chen say to you just now?" "Ahem." Zhang Qianming straightened his clothes and pointed toward the outpost Chen Fan had erected before leaving. "Domain Lord Chen invited me to join Fan Domain and established a Fan Domain outpost here." "From this day forth, the Shui clan no longer exists in Jiangnan." "All bridges belong to Fan Domain—this one here, and seven downstream." "The toll for all caravans has been reduced from five ghost stones per person to one." As soon as the words fell, ecstatic joy erupted across the faces of the merchant caravan members. "That's wonderful news!" "Fan Domain is truly magnanimous!" "Domain Lord Chen is so generous! Our shipping costs will drop significantly! Besides, Fan Domain's bridge looks far superior to the old Shui clan bridge—its rank must be incredibly high, right?" "Hmph." Zhang Qianming snorted with pride. "It's a max-rank bridge! There will never be any bridge collapses like before. Cross with peace of mind—if this bridge ever collapses, I'll bury myself in the rubble! Besides, if a flood could wash away a max-rank bridge, the entirety of Jiangnan would already be submerged!" "Furthermore—" "Domain Lord Chen appointed me as the stationmaster of this outpost and gave me ten recruit quotas. All ten will become official members of Fan Domain, with a monthly stipend of... 100 ghost stones." Zhang Qianming sighed with feigned sorrow. "Alas, where am I supposed to recruit people? In times like these, finding good men isn't easy." Yet no one responded. The merchant caravan members fell dead silent, staring at him with burning, ravenous eyes. A monthly stipend of 100 ghost stones?! And that was just for an ordinary Fan Domain member?! Even the caravan leaders were struck dumb. That pay was higher than what they earned leading entire caravans! Where was the justice in that?! "How about..." one caravan leader began hesitantly, only to be interrupted by another leader whose lips twitched. "Just a reminder: betraying the clan gets you hunted down." "Would they dare hunt me into Fan Domain?" "Uh..." "Um, can I join?" "Sorry, all positions are filled. We aren't taking anyone else for now." Zhang Qianming grinned and shook his head, pointing toward ten familiar figures sprinting breathlessly across the bridge toward him. Exactly ten. All ten were former Shui clan guards. They had worked together for years and knew each other inside out. Although they had fled earlier, their past camaraderie and their promise to look after his family before running made Zhang Qianming decide to give these ten quotas to them. They were experienced hands who needed no adjustment period, allowing them to carry out Domain Lord Chen's orders far more effectively. "..." Seeing that there was no hope of joining, the merchants dispersed, glancing back over their shoulders with mixed emotions. They wondered what on earth they had been bustling about for all their lives—running back and forth across the wilderness without ever earning 100 ghost stones a month. Maybe once they arrived in Fan Domain, they should go all-in and open an exotic treasure. What if they hit the jackpot? Working for a caravan their entire lives wouldn't make them rich anyway. "Brother Qianming!" On Jiangbei Bridge, the panting former guards rushed up to Zhang Qianming. The guard who had urged him to flee earlier asked uneasily, "Are you really willing to give the Fan Domain spots to us? We... we left you behind and ran earlier." They had already made it halfway across before Zhang Qianming called them back with a voice transmission talisman. "Cut the crap," Zhang Qianming chided affectionately. "In a world crawling with ghost creatures, finding true brothers is hard enough. We've worked together in the Shui clan for years and know each other well." "Besides, before running, you promised to take care of my family. Whether you could have actually done it or not, hearing it warmed my heart." "Naturally, I'm keeping this good fortune for you brothers." "So... it's really 100 ghost stones a month?" The guard's throat bobbed, his voice trembling with disbelief. "They really pay that much? Didn't the clan head always say maintaining bridges cost a fortune? Offering such high stipends, lowering tolls, and building a max-rank bridge—can this bridge really turn a profit?" "A hundred ghost stones, plain and simple." "Domain Lord Chen told me personally. Would he lie to me? Even if he did, I'd still take it." "As for me..." Zhang Qianming cleared his throat lightly. "The Domain Lord decreed that I am the stationmaster, so my pay is naturally a bit higher than yours. Don't make things difficult for me during work—back me up properly!" "Of course!" the guard said excitedly. "Rest assured, Stationmaster Zhang!" "Drop the title. Just call me Brother Qianming; it sounds more natural." Just then, a black speck in the distance rapidly enlarged. In the blink of an eye, it arrived before them, decelerated sharply, and came to a halt. It was the Fan Domain high-speed rail, traveling along the very route Chen Fan had just laid. Three or four people stepped out. Leading them was a sharp-featured young man who cast a cold glance around. "Who is Zhang Qianming?" "I am, I am!" Snapping out of his daze, Zhang Qianming stepped forward tentatively. "And you gentlemen are...?" "Greetings, Stationmaster Zhang." The young man pulled out a command token from his robes and smiled warmly at Zhang Qianming. "Zhen Ba, Rank 2 member of Fan Domain's Logistics Pavilion." "We share the same rank." "By the Domain Lord's order, I have brought Fan Domain standard uniforms and other supplies. The nearest Fan Domain outpost to you is thirty-seven kilometers away." "I brought voice transmission talismans for you." "You can contact Fan Domain directly. For bridge matters, ghost creature riots, or enemy intrusions, ask in the talisman to speak with Wang Kui. He is the Pavilion Master of Fan Domain's Heavenly Granary Pavilion, currently in charge of outpost management." "If you need supplies like replacement uniforms, ask for Pavilion Master Qiu. He heads our Logistics Pavilion and oversees all logistical affairs for Fan Domain." While they spoke, the other logistics members unloaded neatly folded garments and led down eleven Skeleton Horses. Additionally, armed with hammers and nails, they hung a wooden plaque reading "Jiangbei Bridge" above the bridgehead. Upon the outpost wall, they mounted a plaque bearing the name "Fan Domain Jiangbei Bridge Outpost." They also brought Fan Domain's banner to erect within the compound. In just a few moments, what had been an anonymous outpost was thoroughly infused with the presence of Fan Domain, instantly recognizable as one of its strongholds. "This is our Logistics Pavilion's duty," Zhen Ba said with a smile, noticing Zhang Qianming's attention. "You can come to us for any logistical needs. By the way, your monthly stipends are currently disbursed by the Logistics Pavilion as well." "However, the Domain Lord plans to establish a Finance Pavilion dedicated to managing funds. In the future, your stipends will likely be issued by them. An appropriate Pavilion Master hasn't been chosen yet, so it's temporarily on hold." At that moment, another guard behind Zhang Qianming could not resist asking, "Sir, is our stipend... really 100 ghost stones a month?" "Shut up!" Zhang Qianming barked in exasperation, feeling embarrassed that the matter was raised at such a time. "It's fine." Zhen Ba chuckled. "It's only human nature—completely understandable. We all work to earn a living, after all." "However... how should I put this? The Domain Lord actually didn't tell you the whole story." "A regular Rank 1 member of Fan Domain receives 100 ghost stones, while a Rank 2 member in a position like Stationmaster Zhang receives 300." "But that is for members stationed within Fan Domain." "You are an external outpost." "There is an additional hazard subsidy: 10 ghost stones per month for Rank 1 members, and 20 ghost stones for Rank 2 members." "Which means your monthly pay is actually 110 ghost stones." "And Stationmaster Zhang, yours is 320." "..." Zhang Qianming and the guards gasped, their breath catching in their throats. The pay was even higher?! "External outposts... get a subsidy too?" "Of course. It's more dangerous out here, unlike Fan Domain itself, which is completely safe. When you get the chance, come visit headquarters and have a look around." "Here." Zhen Ba pulled a stack of rawhide parchment sheets from his robes and handed them over. "Fill in your information." "Name, age, cultivation, past experience, and highlight moments of your life—record everything. I need to take it back for archival." "If you are a special cultivator, note that down as well; it's the biggest bonus factor." "If you have family, write down their names and residential addresses. If you fall in battle for Fan Domain, funeral compensation will be sent directly to your family." "What counts as a highlight moment?" Zhang Qianming asked softly, looking at the parchment in embarrassment. "Um... I can't read..." Joining the Jiangnan Shui clan had never involved so much paperwork. Nobody had cared about his past experience. "Illiterate?" Zhen Ba took back the sheet. "Then tell me, and I'll write it down for you. But when you have free time, visit Fan Domain for a while. We have a private school, and all members study during evening breaks, including learning to read and write." "Once this high-speed rail line is fully connected, traveling back to Fan Domain will be easy and fast—320 kilometers in just a few cups of tea." "Past experience means which factions you've served, or whether you have any enemies. It's best not to have enemies before joining Fan Domain. If you do, Fan Domain will step in to mediate so it doesn't cause trouble for us later." "How do you mediate?" Zhang Qianming asked instinctively. "..." Zhen Ba glanced at the pool of blood near the bridgehead that had yet to be cleaned and smacked his lips. "It varies from person to person. Fan Domain has its own unique methods of mediation, handled mainly by the Dark Pavilion. We in Logistics only collect the information." "Then what about highlight moments...?" "For example, if you personally killed a ghost creature, or survived a one-versus-three fight—anything you take pride in counts. There's no strict standard." "It serves as a reference for future rank evaluations." "Then I think the greatest highlight of my life was when the Domain Lord wiped out the Shui clan. Everyone else ran, but I stayed behind. I believed the Domain Lord would build the bridges and might give me a job, and then... I actually waited it out..." "Does that count?" "Of course it counts!" Zhen Ba laughed. "You waited out a damn good job for yourself!" Before long, the registration for Zhang Qianming and the others was complete. Each donned a standard Fan Domain black robe and received his own command token. Their status had transformed completely. From Shui clan guards to official members of Fan Domain. The corpses at the bridgehead were quickly cleared away as well. "Right, one more thing." Before leaving, Zhen Ba looked at Zhang Qianming with a solemn expression. "Make sure to read the Fan Domain Member Handbook I left with you. Fan Domain's rewards are generous, but our punishments are severe." "Any mistake you make could disrupt Fan Domain's grand plan." "Fan Domain is rising rapidly right now. Any small hitch could affect our momentum, and the consequences would be immense." "Remember two things: "Never betray Fan Domain. "Never take money that doesn't belong to you. "The people of the Penal Pavilion and Dark Pavilion aren't as pleasant to talk to as I am. You don't ever want to deal with them..." A vivid image flashed through Zhang Qianming's mind: the moment the clan head died, when Domain Lord Chen turned around, a ghostly figure had flickered through the crowd like a phantom. A shiver ran down his spine, and he nodded solemnly. "Thank you for the warning!" "By the way..." Zhang Qianming hesitated, then leaned in gossiping, lowering his voice. "Captain Zhen, you mentioned earlier that Heavenly Granary Pavilion Master Wang Kui oversees the outposts. Does that mean Pavilion Master Wang is our direct superior?" "Naturally." "But... isn't the Heavenly Granary Pavilion in charge of warehouses? Why would Pavilion Master Wang oversee outposts too...?" "Ahem." Zhen Ba cleared his throat and lowered his voice. "This is internal gossip, so keep it to yourself. Every Pavilion Master oversees a vital branch of Fan Domain, but their standing in the Domain Lord's favor varies." "The two most favored are Quehou, Pavilion Master of the Penal Pavilion, and Wang Kui, Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Granary Pavilion." "The former oversees everyone in Fan Domain, including the other Pavilion Masters." "The latter theoretically manages the warehouses, but because he is favored and exceptionally capable, he concurrently handles numerous duties. Didn't I mention the Domain Lord plans to establish a Finance Pavilion?" "Rumor has it..." "That Pavilion Master position will likely go to Pavilion Master Wang. Compared to the Heavenly Granary Pavilion, that would mean true financial authority, though even now, major transfers of ghost stones must pass through Pavilion Master Wang's hands anyway." "Can Pavilion Master Wang handle all that work?" "That's where his talent lies. Anyone else would have crumbled under the weight, but Pavilion Master Wang manages it all seamlessly." "Ahem." Catching himself, Zhen Ba waved his hand. "Enough gossip—don't spread it around. I have to go." Members of Fan Domain often discussed these things in private; after all, who didn't love listening to gossip about their superiors? It was impossible to stop. Soon, Zhen Ba boarded the high-speed train composed of ten max-rank hanging baskets, waved to Zhang Qianming, pressed a button, and shot off into the wilderness at blistering speed. "...So fast!" Zhang Qianming stood in place, murmuring as he watched the train vanish into the horizon in the blink of an eye. Over recent days, he had naturally heard tales of Fan Domain's high-speed rail and knew it was swift, but he had had no tangible concept of its speed. Seeing it today, the speed was truly terrifying. So this was the Fan Domain high-speed rail... "Brother Qianming!" The guard who had urged him to run earlier could no longer contain his excitement. He gently stroked his black robe, his eyes gleaming with delight. "From now on, we're really members of Fan Domain?" "Mm." Zhang Qianming smiled as he looked at the single stripe embroidered on the man's chest—the proof of a Rank 1 member. He had stripes on his chest too, except there were two, symbolizing Rank 2. He touched them. Raised embroidery. It felt exquisite, crafted with sturdy, premium fabric. He then looked down at the command token in his hand, glanced toward the outpost wall, and willed it with his mind. A section of the wall instantly sank into the ground. With another thought, the wall rose back up. Effortlessly obeying his will. Through the command token, he could freely manipulate the outpost's walls and cannon towers. In terms of authority, status, and stipend, everything was far superior to his previous life. It was practically an overnight ascent. Suddenly, he was no longer a nobody. Such fortune... Even now, he could barely believe it was real. *** Past Jiangbei Bridge, laying the line became far easier, proceeding almost entirely without obstruction. Dawn had broken not long ago, and a new day had just begun. The Jiangnan Shui clan had hardly delayed them. Yet after laying thirty-odd kilometers, the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage halted once more. A mountain stood before them. It was not as tall as Nameless Mountain. Jiangnan was mostly plains with few mountains, but few did not mean none. Detouring would waste too much time and energy. Thus... Weiwei leaped down from the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage with a low roar, charging forward to dig with all his might. Bridging rivers, tunneling through mountains. This was their task: to construct the route from Fan City to Medicine King Valley at maximum speed and minimum cost. "Sigh." Chen Fan stepped out of the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage, leaning against the carriage wall to stretch his limbs with a light sigh. "When will this ever end?" Only he could build this high-speed rail route. There were still four hundred kilometers to go, requiring several more days of labor. It was thoroughly exhausting. At that moment, Sick Monkey stepped forward and asked hesitantly, "Young Master, Weiwei digs fast, but will there be any risk of this tunnel collapsing?" "It won't collapse," Chen Fan shook his head. "The tunnel Weiwei and his parents dug in Nameless Mountain hasn't collapsed to this day. Besides... look." The ground rippled faintly. The next instant, pale bone suddenly pierced through the earth, rapidly extending into the tunnel Weiwei had carved and bracing itself against both sides of the corridor. "Did you forget? Fan Domain possesses the Mountain Skeleton Embryo." Chen Fan couldn't help but chuckle. The greatest utility of the Mountain Skeleton Embryo was its ability to extend subterranean bone structures anywhere within the camp's boundaries to maintain the structural integrity of hollow underground formations. Although this spot was over three hundred kilometers from the main camp, because it was connected by copper pipes, it still fell within Fan Domain's territory. The Mountain Skeleton Embryo could reach here just as well. Strictly speaking, this was an exploit. Normally, no ghost fire could encompass a camp territory this vast, but he had expanded the range through copper pipes. It worked wonders. Before long, Weiwei tunneled completely through the mountain, ran to the side, and regurgitated all the soil he had swallowed. Then the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage set off once more. Paving resumed. Passing through the mountain, they raced across the flat Jiangnan plains toward Medicine King Valley, leaving solidified copper pipes trailing behind them. Finally! Three days later, the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage came to a stop at the entrance of Medicine King Valley. Medicine King Valley was situated between two mountains, with a fortress city constructed in the pass between them. At this moment, all disciples of Medicine King Valley stood outside the valley in full sect attire to welcome them. At the forefront stood Valley Master Qi alongside Qi Feng. Beside them sat a colossal toad three to four meters tall. Chen Fan stepped out of the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage, his eyes flashing with curiosity as he looked at the creature. This was likely the Gold-Swallowing Toad exotic beast Qi Feng had mentioned before. He wondered what abilities it possessed. "Valley Master Qi," Chen Fan greeted with a smile as Valley Master Qi strode toward him. "Your speed far exceeds mine. It took me five days to reach Medicine King Valley, while you returned in a fraction of that time." "Domain Lord Chen is too modest," Valley Master Qi replied solemnly. "Medicine King Valley will never forget this immense favor. Please, enter the valley—we have prepared a grand feast." "I appreciate the thought, but I won't be entering the valley." Chen Fan shook his head. "The foundation has already been laid. Since I've made the trip to Jiangnan, I want to quickly extend the high-speed rail network to the major cities across the region before heading back." The hardest part had been connecting Jiangbei to Jiangnan. Now that this mainline was complete, the branch lines connecting to the major cities of Jiangnan would be far simpler—like branches growing from a trunk. Once he completed Jiangnan, he would prepare for the return trip. Then, he would link Jiangdong and Jiangxi. Uniting the four territories of the Great River. The grand plan of Fan Domain had begun to take shape.