“Sure, let me take a look,” Thorian looked at the quest parchment that Melina handed to him.

Protectorate Foundation Description Embark on the Protectorate Expansion quest, tailored for leaders with the Lord Attribute, to expand your realm's influence by upgrading three vassal territories to Village Stage 2. Quest Requirement Possession of the Lord Attribute. Quest Objectives Advance three of your vassal territories to Village Stage 2 Reward

Title: Initiate Ruler

10% increase in Territory Experience Gathering

Looking at the quest, Thorian smiled. I almost forgot about this part. But this is amazing news. Establishing a protectorate is the first step toward making a fully fledged kingdom.

"Thank you," Thorian smiled at Melina. "Please register this quest for me. I will begin working on it tomorrow."

"I understand," Melina nodded. "I wish you a good rest of the night."

With those words, Thorian made his way back to his house, where he found Nox already asleep on the couch. Magnus had claimed his resting spot atop Nox, yet the latter seemed undisturbed by the companionship.

Thorian couldn't help but chuckle softly at the scene before he surrendered himself to sleep. The day had drawn from him more than he allowed to show, and sleep claimed him the moment his head touched the pillow.

The chorus of birds heralded the new day, drawing Thorian from the depths of slumber. Sunlight teased the edges of the curtains, urging him awake. Adhering to his morning ritual, Thorian woke Nox and freshened up with a spell of water manipulation. Once ready, he found Nox equally prepared for the day ahead.

As they stepped outside, Nox inquired, "So, do you want me to go to Locksley again to bring William and the rest?"

"No," Thorian responded with a light-hearted shake of his head. "I'll entrust that to Alacritas. The humans must be acclimating to our routines by now."

"Then what's the plan?" Nox asked, curiosity tilting his voice.

Thinking for a moment, Thorian responded, "First of all, let's go and visit the Alchemist's Lab. There is something we need from them."

"The Alchemist's Lab?" Nox raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"

"We need an elixir that will greatly increase our cultivation efficiency," Thorian explained. "You'll see when we get there."

With those words, the two made their way to the Alchemist's Lab, where they found Hamur setting up the materials to start his day.

"Ever so punctual," Thorian observed as he entered.

“Oh, my lord?” Hamur turned, his initial surprise melting into a warm smile. "I just wanted to come in early today to set up the lab, to spare the others the burden of setup.. Either way, I'm assuming you've come here with a request. Is that right, my lord?"

"A week has passed since the last time I used a Thunder Boon Elixir," Thorian explained. "So, I've come to procure one for both myself and Nox."

Hamur, acknowledging Thorian's intent, paused his meticulous arrangement of flasks. With a nod, he moved towards a carefully organized collection of potions. "Then, I believe I have precisely what you seek."

Presented with two vials of elixir, Thorian took the opportunity to examine them closely.

Thunder’s Boon Elixir Quality Superior Description

This premium version of the Thunder's Boon Elixir offers a transformative experience, significantly boosting one's cultivation with minimal risk. Designed for those seeking to accelerate Qi accumulation during meditation or to ensure a smooth breakthrough to the Foundational realm, this elixir combines the potent benefits of its predecessor with enhanced ingredients and refinement processes to reduce side effects.

Thorian's brows arched in genuine surprise, prompting Nox to cast an intrigued glance at the elixirs arrayed before them. "Astonishing," Thorian marveled. "To think you've mastered its production in merely a week. Your progress is nothing short of remarkable."

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"Well, I did have to use up a lot of Pulse Poppies in my experiments," Hamur, somewhat sheepishly, scratched the back of his head. "Without all the support you've given me, I wouldn’t have been able to progress nearly as fast. For that, I am very thankful."

"Don’t be too humble," Thorian chided gently, his gaze admiring the lucid elixir swirling within the flask. "Imagine the potential once we expand production to meet the needs of our forces. Our army's strength could reach unprecedented heights."

However, Hamur's expression clouded, prompting Thorian's concern. "What troubles you, Hamur?"

Taking a moment before speaking, Hamur admitted, "My lord, we have an issue in that department. Before the expansion that happened over the last two days, we were somehow able to keep up with the production of all the pills and potions necessary to support our fighters. I am afraid that it would be hard to continue doing so, as we don’t have enough alchemists to go around."

Hearing these words, Thorian bit his lip. How rash of me not to think about this issue, he thought. He then looked around the lab before noticing another problem. Even if we bring in more alchemists, the lab itself is too small to accommodate all of them. Upgrading the lab should alleviate this issue slightly, but it will still be a problem.

Looking back at Hamur, Thorian nodded, "I understand. I’ll make sure that you receive a new batch of alchemists today. I shall also construct another lab to accommodate the new influx."

"Thank you for your consideration," Hamur nodded.

With that, Thorian headed out of the lab before constructing one right next to it, using the wood units they had accumulated. After taking care of that matter, the two made their way to the Cultivation Hall.

After drinking the elixir, Thorian began his meditation session. The two and a half hours quickly passed before Thorian opened his eyes.

Display Panel.

Cultivation Realm Qi Gathering Seventh Stage (37.9%)

Now this is a progression I can be satisfied with. My growth has more than doubled compared to my usual cultivation sessions.

Exiting the Cultivation Hall, he and Nox set off towards the new grounds designated for waste. Nox, bubbling with eagerness, inquired, "How did your session go? Mine was ridiculous—I advanced to the fourth stage, right after breaking into the third just yesterday!"

Thorian's laughter mingled with the morning air. "I'm glad you're enjoying your growth. My progress has also increased; I'm now a third of the way toward the eighth stage."

"No way, that far already?" Nox's surprise was evident. "Makes me wonder, how many stages are there in total?"

"Each realm consists of ten stages," Thorian clarified. "But advancing beyond gathering Qi to ascend from one realm to the next requires enduring a tribulation."

Nox, intrigued, pressed, "A tribulation? What is that?"

"You'll understand in time," Thorian replied, a knowing smile on his lips.

Though Nox found Thorian's answer lacking, they continued their journey to the outskirts, where they took care to cleanse themselves and their belongings before returning to the heart of their community. There, they convened the council for the daily briefing.

Thorian initiated the meeting with a note of commendation. "Firstly, I'd like to express my gratitude to everyone for your unwavering dedication to our village's flourishing. A special acknowledgment goes to Forlune and Zogarth for their success in integrating more orcs and kobolds into our fold."

"We merely fulfilled our duties," responded Zogarth and Forlune, their nods marking a shared sentiment of humble service.

Elder Yur interjected at that moment, "If it pleases you, my lord, we could augment our forces with goblins. Given our stature and strength, rallying numerous tribes under our banner would pose little challenge."

Thorian responded with a reassuring smile to the shaman elder. "Incorporating more goblins into our ranks is indeed part of my strategy," he acknowledged. "As you may have observed with the recent arrivals, we've shifted from consolidation to expansion. But let me be clear, this expansion is by no means indiscriminate. There are critical considerations we must address."

This declaration led to a palpable silence, as all present turned their attention to Thorian, anticipating further insight. "Our immediate concern is securing additional stone. The quantity required to enhance our infrastructure is formidable, and as we progress, our needs will only escalate."

Zogarth, understanding the gravity of the situation, replied, "The orcs I introduced recently have assimilated well, liberating a significant portion of our fighters to prioritize stone collection."

"That's encouraging. We certainly need all of the workforce we can get our hands on to work on this matter," Thorian remarked, his smile reflecting satisfaction with Zogarth's report. He then shifted his focus back to the council, eager to outline the next point on the agenda. "Another critical area we cannot overlook is the support for our blacksmiths, alchemists, and carpenters. The rapid expansion of our military has exerted unprecedented pressure on these essential services."

"In that case, I will have the new civilian kobold and kobloid populations bolster our support sectors," Forlune declared, seizing the initiative. "Of the kobolds that I've brought, only half of them were inclined to be fighters."

"I entrust this task to you," Thorian affirmed with a nod, his confidence in Forlune's judgment evident. "Now that leaves us with the last point to discuss. We need to begin populating our three vassal territories."

Elder Oom, perplexed by the strategy, voiced his concerns. "Might this not dilute our efforts, my lord? Concentrating on fortifying our central territory seems most advantageous. Diverting resources to these new ones could be seen as less than optimal."

Thorian countered with a patient smile, addressing the elder's skepticism. "Certainly, at first glance, that might seem to be the case. However, you're missing crucial information. Once our territory becomes a town, each upgrade from one stage to the next does not only require some materials and new citizens. Our vassal states would also need to reach a minimum stage requirement."

This explanation prompted Elder Oom to ponder momentarily before he acknowledged the strategy's wisdom with a nod. "In that case, I do understand your point, my lord."

As a contemplative silence fell upon the council, Aqua sought clarification on another pressing matter. "My lord, we still have the issue of needing a human vassal lord to comply with the gods' requirements. How do we tackle that problem?"

Looking up at the sky, Thorian responded, "I believe that our human vassal shall be arriving soon."