NEC Chapter 111: Cooperation, Magic Array, Spring of Life, New Stage

Farrell had fantasized about many scenarios following the manifestation of divine miracles.

The high priest's expectation was to recoup double the losses incurred with the deity from Vast Sea Territory, which is why he meticulously planned such a spectacular display of divine miracles.

Like a roadshow when seeking venture capital, he spared no effort in making it magnificent.

Behind the high priest, the water channel's advancement turned the final corner and ultimately completed its convergence. When the last section of earth mysteriously disappeared, the entire water channel formed a broad circular waterway.

The rushing water flows from both sides met in the channel, collided, surged, and sent up white spray after white spray.

Farrell took a deep breath, lowered the staff he had been holding high, smiled, and turned to face the lord and the dense crowds on the sand dunes flanking the lord.

He anticipated!

He anticipated seeing the Lord of Vast Sea Territory and thousands of people prostrating themselves in awe-struck worship, tears streaming from their eyes in reverence, and voices united in chanting the divine name in a magnificent spectacle!

These heart-stirring scenes had been circling in his mind these past days and had become the high priest's greatest motivation for this "summoning of divine grace"!

However, the scene was dead silent.

Faced with such a great divine miracle, all the citizens of Vast Sea Territory stood like wooden posts, without bowing, without praying, without making a sound.

Those wooden-faced farmers and workers, the wretched-looking goblins and hobgoblins, the armored guards, the muscular centaurs, just stood there dumbly, sometimes looking at him, sometimes at their lord.

Except for those two-headed ogres, they could simultaneously watch the high priest with one head and look toward the lord with the other.

High Priest Farrell felt a chill instantly shoot up his spine throughout his entire body, and the sweat that had emerged from casting spells now felt ice-cold and piercing.

The scene was like his first time taking the stage to spread the divine name in his youth, feeling like a supremely skilled bard, singing the most magnificent verse to a hall full of strangers, only to harvest an awkward silence.

Later he learned that it was humiliation from enemies, because due to language barriers, the people below couldn't understand what he was saying at all and treated it as a clownish comedy performance.

This feeling was absolutely terrible.

Not only High Priest Farrell, but every member of the divine court had ashen faces, and several temple knights had already tensed their muscles, their fingers gripping their sword hilts tightly.

At this suffocating moment, he saw the young lord raise his right hand with five fingers spread.

Boom!!!

Like a long-suppressed volcano suddenly erupting!

The entire sand dune completely boiled! Thousands of people instantly burst forth with mountain-shaking, sea-roaring cheers that could tear through the clouds!

"Long live!"

This slogan had been communicated individually by the Youth Corps beforehand. The lord had said that for today's occasion, the usual slogans should be restrained, don't shout "Long live the lord" or "Long live Vast Sea Territory," only "Long live!"

Shouting wrong would result in work point deductions!

The "long live" of the Starry Continent essentially meant "eternal" or "immortal"! It was also one of the conventional celebratory slogans, so there was no need to avoid the taboos of various emperors.

The citizens shouted themselves hoarse, the veins on their necks bulging, as if they wanted to squeeze out every last breath of air from their lungs.

For these current citizens, the lord's five fingers meant fifty free work points, equivalent to two and a half days of full labor for an adult.

More importantly, work points bestowed by the lord's grace were called grace points, also known as non-discriminatory points, and privately called "golden points," possessing the highest-level consumption privileges in the territory.

Work points, supposedly inspired by some distant great deity and modified by the lord, had become an untradeable but absolutely hardcore currency measure in the territory.

That is, people couldn't buy and sell work points among themselves, but could engage in transactions with the territory.

Each person's daily labor and additional contributions would be converted into work points and recorded on the territory's giant screen, similar to the mercenary guild's magical cloud stone.

Just by entering one's work number, one could check how many work points they had accumulated.

For the citizens of Vast Sea Territory, the growth of work point numbers carried the hope of becoming provisional citizens or even citizens of Vast Sea, representing wealth, dignity, and the future.

But work points differed from reward points.

Completing the daily assigned work task quotas earned basic work points, which citizens called "bronze points."

They always used familiar things to make analogies and measurements.

Basic work points could only be used to pay off debts, redeem one's non-citizen status, or exchange for coarse grains and basic living supplies at the territory's centralized supply and sales cooperative, generally called the Collective Sales Society.

Exceeding work task quotas or making other contributions to the territory earned reward points.

Reward points could not only be used like basic points but also allowed access to the specialty goods section of the Collective Sales Society, where one could purchase meat, milk powder, cotton cloth, candy, and other high-end consumer goods that were unimaginable in the desert before.

To some extent, basic points plus reward points had become a conditioning method for the territory.

For example, when that overturned beast cart by the roadside prompted Youth Corps members to blow their assistance whistles, anyone who rushed to help could earn an additional two to four reward points.

Even stupid and lazy goblins would reflexively charge toward the scene upon hearing the whistle.

Finally, there were grace points directly bestowed by the lord under special circumstances.

The preciousness of these points went without saying. Not only could they access the second floor of the Collective Sales Society with non-discriminatory priority purchasing rights, even if Chief Administrator Herlan came, he'd have to queue behind you.

Although this scenario was almost impossible, it didn't prevent non-citizens and provisional citizens from discussing it with great interest and endless imagination.

Most importantly, these had become a status symbol among non-citizens, and those with high grace point balances more easily gained female favor.

The lord had intentionally increased the proportion of women in the last several batches of slave purchases. Currently, the territory's male-to-female ratio had reached five to three, and the council repeatedly proclaimed that within a year, the ratio would be completely balanced.

By then, as long as the territory's subjects worked hard, everyone could have a happy family.

Moreover, everyone's children and nephews had already joined the Youth Corps and were clearly future territory administrators. With such bright prospects, who the deity was and what they had done was completely unimportant.

In East Xia's executive documents, this was called: "In order to ultimately eliminate class distinctions, it is necessary to first mobilize people's enthusiasm for learning and work through class-distinguishing methods."

Indeed, when one could see clear paths for advancement, everyone became very motivated.

In this thunderous shouting, Chen Mo slowly lowered his hand, then brought his palms together and began to clap gently.

Youth Corps guides faced the crowds on the sand dunes and began following the lord's rhythm, leading the wave of applause.

The lined-up guards raised their spears, repeatedly striking the ground with the spear butts, creating deep, rhythmic percussion sounds.

Soon, all sounds at the scene were tamed and gathered by an invisible force, finally transforming into uniform, shocking rhythm:

"Clap clap clap, Long, live!"

"Clap clap clap, Long, live!"

The temple knights, who had been furious moments before, were stunned. These people were cheering, but seemingly not for their deity's grace.

Deputy Executive Oren from Seven-Radiance Garland Trading Company turned pale, and he now seemed to somewhat understand why the old trade official had always reminded him that the pioneering lord was completely different from other lords.

High Priest Farrell, facing them directly, saw everything clearly and unmistakably.

This young leader seemed to be using this method to enthusiastically and directly remind him that he was the only "deity" in this territory!

He possessed unparalleled control over this territory, and the high priest had no doubt that if this lord drew his sword against him, those frenzied citizens would not hesitate to tear this divine messenger to shreds.

He had only ruled this territory for a few months...

The high priest's facial muscles twitched slightly, but ultimately, facing the thunderous cheers, he managed a somewhat stiff smile.

The sunlight remained scorching, and the newly completed circular waterway flowed with brilliant light, like a gold-bordered jade belt embedded in the great desert.

Chen Mo led the territory's high-ranking officials on an inspection tour of the waterway, his face wearing a warm and gentle smile.

"I have prepared a grand banquet to celebrate the honorable High Priest Todd Farrell, to celebrate your demonstration of a remarkable divine miracle. Come, I can hardly wait!"

The banquet was held once again in the central hall of the lord's mansion. A single feast consumed precious ingredients transported from thousands of miles away, enough for half a month's use by the territory. The halfling chefs did their utmost, using magical seasonings from distant East Xia to create a sumptuous feast.

The lord repeatedly raised his cup, toasting Farrell, toasting Oren, toasting the representatives of the divine court and Seven-Radiance Garland.

Farrell had now awakened from his disappointment.

Being repeatedly assigned by the divine court to negotiate with various demons and monsters, his temperament and intelligence were of the highest caliber.

The divine court's second and third generations weren't without fools, but they generally weren't brought out, for fear of embarrassment.

Regardless, "divine grace" had already been requested, and what he needed to do was maximize the output from this investment in divine grace.

Moreover, looking on the bright side, if this lord possessed such outstanding control, then wouldn't convincing the lord mean winning over the entire territory?

After three rounds of wine, the atmosphere at the banquet was exceptionally harmonious, and Farrell finally found the right moment to ask that question again:

"Lord Chen Mo, the divine court has fully demonstrated our strength and sincerity. When might the conversion of Vast Sea Territory citizens to our faith begin?"

Chen Mo paused his whispered conversation with Herlan beside him, looked up, first raised his cup toward High Priest Farrell from afar, and said, "Easily discussed! However, I'd like to ask, what benefits are there to allowing your faith to proselytize here?"

High Priest Farrell's cup crashed onto the table with a "clang," and he felt like tears were about to fall.

This... this... could one be so shameless?

Even deceiving the gods?

However, within minutes, Chen Mo dispelled all his indignation.

"Previously, I said I didn't believe in those invisible things in the void, so High Priest Farrell wanted to show me, to let me personally witness the mighty power of the Seven-Eyed God. Is that right?"

Farrell nodded woodenly.

"Now, thanks to High Priest Farrell's hard work, divine grace was indeed demonstrated, and I indeed witnessed it personally, so I now completely believe in the existence of the Seven-Eyed God."

"In other words, High Priest Farrell used this divine miracle to exchange for my correct understanding of the deity. Is that the case?"

Farrell continued nodding.

"Precisely because of the divine miracle you demonstrated, I now believe in the existence of the Seven-Eyed God, and simultaneously, I am very willing to actively, openly, and honestly engage in deeper discussions with High Priest Farrell regarding the matter of promoting the Seven-Eyed God in Vast Sea Territory. This should demonstrate our sincerity, shouldn't it?"

Farrell nodded with some anticipation.

"Then," Chen Mo's smile appeared warm and clean, "if we ultimately reach an agreement that the Seven-Eyed God may proselytize in Vast Sea Territory, it should be understandable that I secure some insignificant additional conditions for Vast Sea Territory, right!"

High Priest Farrell sighed deeply and reluctantly nodded.

What the man said indeed made sense.

From the beginning, this lord had said, "I don't believe in the existence of deities!"

Now, this young leader's words analyzed it very clearly: one divine miracle demonstration was exchanged for the other party's transformation from disbelief to belief.

Believing in the deity's existence, allowing proselytizing, and allowing unconditional proselytizing were completely unrelated matters in Chen Mo's view.

Chen Mo was now saying he had witnessed it and indeed believed in the Seven-Eyed God's existence, meaning the first transaction was already complete.

The other party even brought up his own original words: "Please allow me to invoke the divine name on Vast Sea's land, to bring down divine grace, and let the lord personally witness the supreme glory and true power of the Seven-Eyed God!"

Indeed so!

Now, the lord believed because of divine grace and, based on this belief, was beginning consultations regarding proselytizing matters.

The lord was willing to open this door, just wanting to discuss conditions a bit more. Was there any problem with that?

High Priest Farrell thought it over and indeed found no problem!

Even Oren beside him felt this was indeed a fair rule-based transaction.

Then let's negotiate.

However, the temple knight captain beside him still seemed somewhat indignant, seemingly talking to himself but with his voice clearly carrying throughout the hall, "Playing word games to provoke powerful beings is somewhat too reckless."

The hall's clamor briefly paused, and High Priest Farrell somewhat "displeasedly" patted the table, "What nonsense are you talking?"

"Exactly right!" Chen Mo showed no offense whatsoever and instead continued along with the temple knight's words, "Rashly provoking powerful beings is indeed reckless, but regardless of whether it's reckless or provocation, what's coming will come."

"When I wasn't playing word games, didn't the bandit gang still come as they pleased? Otherwise, where would Vast Sea Territory's 'Goblin Observatory’ come from?"

"When Greenspine's Zircon Family attacked Emerald’s South Pass, the lord of South Pass Territory pleaded and begged, but that didn't make Zircon bypass them."

"So, if I allow the divine court to proselytize here while securing some additional conditions that can strengthen myself, I think that's called being measured."

"Precisely because I know my own strength isn't sufficient yet, I must seize every opportunity and work doubly hard."

"Otherwise, if another bandit gang comes next time, who knows whether the divine court will help me or them?"

By this point, everything was laid out in the open, seemingly this lord harbored resentment toward certain forces' previous support of bandits and was determined to be calculating within the rules.

Farrell's heart actually settled down.

What was frightening was unclear and inexplicable grievances; having reasons was good, at least one knew how to resolve them.

After the banquet came rounds of back-and-forth between both negotiation teams. After about ten days of tug-of-war, finally, under both leaders' positive intentions and strong promotion, the cooperation between the Seven-Eyed God's faith and Vast Sea Territory was basically settled.

The divine faith obtained free, non-exclusive proselytizing freedom within Vast Sea Territory, subject to the legal framework.

Chen Mo's conditions required the divine faith to complete the solidification of two sets of spell models for Vast Sea Territory, providing several sets of physical items and supporting spiritual energy supply crystals in the form of magic arrays or magic scrolls.

After consulting with his magical advisor, Farrell had an absurd feeling of "That's it? I thought you were robbing eggs."

Things that would be extremely difficult for Vast Sea Territory were nothing for the well-established divine court. If the lord had made such requests earlier, it might have even saved him a divine grace...

Regardless, things finally concluded with a result that pleased everyone.

Fortune seemed to particularly favor this young lord, as soon another piece of good news followed closely.

The team sent to the Red Tree Highlands successfully crossed Greenspine Kingdom and returned safely, not only bringing back seven Everchant Essence but also receiving a response from the elves regarding the request for some Spring of Life water.

Nominally, the people Chen Mo sent belonged to Lady Frost's direct guard, so the elves had them directly inform the little girl.

"The elves said if the little girl has other needs, she can send a personal letter to their elders, and the elders should make arrangements."

"From what I heard, Spring of Life water isn't particularly precious, seemingly not as valuable as Everchant Essence!"

This was understandable, spring water wouldn't be too scarce in quantity, while Everchant Essence was a processed product of Spring of Life water, so its value should indeed be considerably higher.

Chen Mo immediately wrote a personal letter to Earl Frost and arranged for personnel to carry generous gifts toward the capital of the Resting Moon Dynasty.

Sea rice was growing vigorously, the photovoltaic power generation area was steadily expanding, the road system was improving daily, Seven-Radiance Trading Company delivered fishing boats... victory reports came from all fronts.

In Vast Sea Territory, the first batch of provisional citizens transformed from slaves had emerged, moving out of sand burrows and from semi-underground to truly above ground. This demonstration effect once again stirred up a new wave of construction frenzy in the territory.

Everything was thriving and prosperous.

And Chen Mo, with the support of gradually expanding intelligence and trade systems, finally began focusing the precious altar transport capacity toward complete industrial systems.

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