Seized by the System

Two weeks after helping Ren Ruofeng rescue his old lover, Fang Ning decided to visit his Legendary Space.

Oh yes, he already had a name for it: Let’s call it the Draconic Arcane Realm.

Right then, the Draconic Arcane Realm had become a construction site, with piles of building materials, spell materials and fertile soil stacked up in the corners.

In the Arcane Realm, there was only the sound of machinery and wall-building, but no human voices.

Since those workers were all souls, they could communicate through soul telepathy.

Those souls were directed by Anderson and the Spirit of the Space, Achilles. They were led by several foremen as they controlled the excavators, scrapers and cranes according to Anderson’s multiply-modified construction plans. It was all very grand.

True, all of them were prisoners in the Draconic Penitentiary. Those who could not play their spirit-controlled games well would be sent here to become construction workers, getting to work after a short training. After all, they would not get hit by anything and as such can be used safely.

There was no way to take in outsiders. Secrecy was a problem, and Fang Ning was not like certain feudal emperors who, after their mausoleums were completed, would seal the workers inside to keep the secret layout from escaping.

“If you don’t play your games well, then go carry bricks” was now the new advertising motto for the Draconic Penitentiary.

Fang Ning himself was also a soul, and when he entered, he was immediately surrounded by them.

So, Fang Ning, accompanied by Anderson, Achilles and the foremen, began to check on the construction site, occasionally nodding and pointing out which places needed improvement.

According to Anderson’s plans, the entire space would be sectioned into three layers: the uppermost layer to hide people as well as plant fields; the middle layer was a prizefighting arena; the bottom layer would have a maze to trap criminals in, with numerous traps and stations for Heavenly Soldiers already set up.

Every layer would be 33 meters high, enough space for any higher constructions.

Achilles was now holding a white notebook and a black pen, listening and making notes very intently. He no longer had the earlier lazy manner as he read.

Anderson drifted beside him, acting simultaneously as a bodyguard. He was also holding a small notebook and a pen, listening and making notes.

All the foremen did the same.

Fang Ning was very satisfied with this. ‘Not bad, a very fine attitude.

‘Somehow, I have come to the level of the Fatso…maybe I can become a candidate for the most successful person born in the 1980s.

“We must guarantee the quality of the construction and get experience from brilliant construction teams in the outside world. We must improve our training to prevent any problems with quality.”

Fang Ning said everything as though he knew about it.

Anderson nodded repeatedly. “You’re right, sir. Don’t fret, those 10 foremen are chosen from the prisoners in the Draconic Penitentiary. They all have more than 20 years of experience in construction work, and the quality of the project and the punctual completion is guaranteed. The Draconic Arcane Realm can undergo a trial run at year-end, when the initial construction is done.”

Fang Ning felt relieved. 8 months to renovate a 1-square-kilometer space almost completely sounded wonderful.

Well, he did not know what was the normal time taken for construction in the outside world, only that building a three-story flat outside would take about 3 years…

“Good. Soon, I will distribute some high-quality Vitality Pills among you. Make sure those workers eat and sleep well to maintain our work rate. Don’t tire yourself out. ”

Having completed his final instruction, Fang Ning arrogantly returned to his System Space under the respectful gazes of his workers. He continued on with his cultivation.

Yep, it was just because he got bored that he found an excuse to wander and check around the site. After acting for a while, he was refreshed and motivated.

Fang Ning dropped down onto his sofa and was just about to cross his legs and practice when Zheng Dao sent a message.

“Duke Yun and Landlord Liu of Cloud Fog City has met with an incident and requires us to give help in the name of chivalry. The fee will be 500 million US dollars. ”

Fang Ning, having read the headline of the message, quickly read through the contents.

The situation had changed again, and this time it was the Three Great Russian Pastors; using the Great Community Prayers, they’ve successfully summoned their national totem.

It was the Giant Spirit Bear, and now it was led by a Knight cavalry known as the Justice Cavalry. They were now sweeping towards the Siberian Wilderness; numerous minor powers have been defeated, and the carnage there was horrible. They were now nearing the borders of the properties of the 10 Great Powers.

They must have learnt their lesson from the last time when they lost using their weapon technology; now they took heart from their cultural and historical heritage and so managed to summon their totem.

Sadly, the Chinese cultural totem has not yet shown any sign of moving…

Fang Ning felt more and more suspicious. If he could summon it, then the totems of those large clans should be able to be summoned, only depending on the price paid. Those Ruskies must have paid a big one.

The System said, “Help the weak, remove the powerful. That is my purpose. Let’s go now.”

Fang Ning was speechless. “Are you so accustomed to using your Vigilante A alter ego to fool others that you want to do it to me? Let me ask you, are there any chivalrous points if you take your part in this battle for power?”

The System said, “Let me look through history… Hmm, that’s it: Since ages past, the Siberian Wilderness has never belonged to Russia. Only in recent times, when they used their guns and military power to massacre and chase the locals away, did they manage to invade the area. Now that the new era has arrived, their military power has waned and they were chased from the land. There’s coming and there’s going, so it’s fair. Being hired by Cloud Fog City to fight them is not against any rules of chivalry; rather, the point is whether you can manage to dye the ground red.”

Fang Ning nodded and stood, saying with conviction, “That’s no problem. Those Ruskies have taken lands from us, and if I don’t then it’s unfair. Let’s go meet this Giant Spirit Bear and check it out to see whether it can take back the Luo wilderness!”

….

Now, in the Siberian wilderness, on the south bank of the river Reina, the ice had already melted. Sometimes, several large fish would jump out of the water. The grass grew lush beside the river, and the spruces, larches and Korean pines in the woods nearby were slowly becoming green.

As the Vitality was restored, those plants’ ability to stand against the weather became stronger; they were now obviously much more alive and healthy.

In the forest, all sorts of wild vitality herbs thrived in the Vitality-rich atmosphere, accumulating potency day by day.

Sometimes, Siberian musk deer, wild wolves, black bears and even tigers appeared in the forest. Their forms were much larger compared to those in past documentaries.

The beauty of the Luo wilderness during the start of May was exhibited in full. This area had always had a very scarce human population ever since the beginning of time, and the vital energy here was so much higher than the other densely-populated areas, approximately fifty percent higher.

There was land hundred of thousands square kilometers, with plenty of water systems which meant there was no lack of water. The reason why many international groups of Extraordinaires settled here was because of the natural advantages of this land.

Duke Yun, Landlord Liu and Landlord Yun of Cloud Fog City were currently supposed to be meeting with the representatives of the 9 Great Powers.

Now however, excluding them, there were only representatives from three of them. They were all Caucasians, and the three of them who were Chinese stood out against the rest.

Duke Yun walked up and asked with puzzlement, “Why are there only three groups, and the remaining 6 not here?”

A muscular Caucasian with height nearing 2 meters walked over, speaking in fluent Chinese, “Duke Yun, those people are afraid. They already face a shortage of manpower and as such do not want to waste it here. They have retreated back into our country. Hmmph, they are all cowardly tortoises who shrink their heads as soon as the Giant Spirit Bear appears. Well, it’s just right: now we can divide the land they left behind among the four of us.”

Duke Yun lowered his guard slightly. The three other sects here were obviously like his: powers set up by a Pond-level Powerhouse with him or her as the core figure.

Those who did not have official backgrounds all had their roots here. It was no easy task to just retreat and surrender; they had to put up a fight as to show their subordinates.

He nodded. “Manson, you spoke rightly. If we chase that Giant Spirit Bear away, then we can equally divide their lands.”

At this, Duke Yun felt slightly uncomfortable. But with the confidence and manner of someone at Pond Level, he did not show it, thinking it was probably due to the threat of the Giant Spirit Bear.

Its strength had been on display the past two weeks. Any video intelligence they bought or any sightings showed that it was a truly fearsome vicious beast.

It was 133 meters tall, but nimble instead of clumsy; its speed during sprints was very fast, and it could reach any place instantly within a thousand meters. Its paws packed a punch, and with a smack, could reduce a mountaintop to powder.

Its thick fur and skin was so tough that it would not be hurt even if an air- defense missile hit it. The only weapon technology that has not been tested on it was the atomic bomb. This was the information that the lost minor powers had discovered.

High attacking and defensive ability, as well as high mechanomotive force: these were the characteristics of individuals with top-level battling power. If you had the short end, and you would be tortured; roles reversed, you could torture another.

Manson pointed towards a man in a black cloak. “Chasing it away is not a problem. We of Rothenburg have invited this powerful alchemist from East Europe, Ashmir. He has made us a mysterious potion which is strong enough to poison and kill the bear.”

Duke Yun looked pleased at this. He was not the only one who had asked for outside assistance; everyone had.

The power of money in modern society was ubiquitous, especially now in the modern era where everyone competed in terms of individual battling power, not manpower.

As long as one had money, all government military power may not be as good as that of privately-owned powers.

“Great Ashmir, where is this mysterious potion? I am no expert, but I am confident I can face down that bear with a move or two. I can help you attack it.” Having become a Pond-level Powerhouse meant that Duke Yun was no fluke, even if it had always been unknown.

The cloaked man nodded, and a green vial appeared before him. He spoke similarly in Chinese, “This is it. It is known as Medea’s Poison. When a small amount makes contact on the bear’s skin and fur, it will seep into its marrow and consequently kill it.”

Duke Yun felt delighted, since the more backers the better. He was about to take the vial when suddenly, the cloaked man tossed it at him.

His instinct as a Pond-level Powerhouse was to immediately activate his true power. He turned into a large cloud of smoke. That vial exploded, and turned one side of the cloud green.

“Duke?!” Landlord Liu and Landlord Yun were horrified. They had not expected an ally with a common foe would immediately attack them without any warning.

Although a few sparks flew at the beginning, they now had an intimidating common enemy. Why were they now inciting internal conflict?

The green cloud flew back immediately, then whisked the both of them away towards the west where Cloud Fog City was.

“Hmph, uncultured idiot. If you had read more foreign history, you would have been warier. Medea’s Poison is one that consists of many betrayals! She betrayed her father and her brothers, was betrayed by her husband, then betrayed her children. Pity he is a Pond-level Powerhouse which cannot be poisoned to death right away. Instead, he had escaped.” Ashmir smirked, though looking disappointed.

“Ha, that’s enough. Those yellow monkeys (TN: condescending name for Chinese people) really did think we would work with them to fight those Russians?” Manson sneered at the retreating cloud. “That Giant Spirit Bear is one of the most powerful in the world, how can we fight it? The Russians have already promised that if we remove all those Chinese that come in, we just need to pay taxes at certain times every year to keep our land. Those Russians don’t have the power to develop it anyway.”

“Hahaha. Let’s gather our manpower and launch an attack on Cloud Fog City, as well as the Spirit Realm which they had just painstakingly invaded. It’s a total of nearly 3,000,000 square km, and one power can get 300,000 square km easily.”

The other Caucasians laughed out loud. Everything was in their control now.

No wonder only Cloud Fog City and two Russian sorcerers had fought over the Spirit Realm. Those other powers had already been in cahoots with the Russians.

You would be mistaken to think that those Russians were simple-minded: those tricks they had played throughout history were varied, forming alliances left and right to win. They seldom lost much in wars they fought in, which was obvious looking at the rate their territory was growing.

No matter how good your tactics were, they were still based on power and strength. With the materializing of the Russian totem, those big international groups defected, opting not to become daring first-line soldiers who would get killed first. They betrayed the weak, using the appeasement strategy to protect themselves. That was their tradition.

…

In Cloud Fog City, the Duke’s Hall. The floors and pillars were all made from red pine. The red symbolized the fieriness of life.

Only the Duke on his seat looked green — even his hair; the Landlords Liu and Yun were not even harmed. They gathered around him.

“How are you doing, Duke?”

“Are you okay, cousin brother?”

The two were very anxious and wanted to move nearer, but was stopped by Duke Yun.

He leant against the Duke’s red pine seat, exhausted. “This potion is very powerful, but hasn’t managed to kill me yet. At least they hadn’t known my true powers, which allowed us to escape. I will not be able to exert my power for a month. Go arrange for the subordinates to retreat. Luckily, I had chosen a place near China when I set up base here. Move everyone within the Chinese borders; they will not dare attack.”

Landlord Liu said with reluctance, “But Duke, our Vitality production has just been completed, and its production each year is valued at hundreds of billions of US dollars. There are more than 100,000 people, and nearly a thousand Extraordinaires. This is our strong foundation, which is a result of our hard work in development for over more than 10 years. If we are going to move back into China, this foundation will collapse. How are we going to feed them?”

Landlord Yun had similar opinions. Here, she was a high-status Landlord whose luxurious living conditions dwarfed those of famous socialites and noble wives. Without this foundation, she could still live such a life, but she would be at the level of normal wealthy families and can no longer use expensive Vitality products.

Duke Yun shook his head. “Don’t think about our interests now. As long as I don’t die, there will be a chance for revenge; if I die, then we have nothing. Those people haven’t known what the condition of my powers after this poisoning and will still be on their guard. The other nine Pond-level Powerhouses would not venture near, but they may send spies. Retreat, quickly.”