32. The three unbreakable rules of this manor.

In the main hall, silence enveloped the space. Everyone stood in straight, orderly rows. On the main seat, Noah Drake, wrapped in a blanket, looked somewhat embarrassed, his face slightly flushed.

'No choice. I have no clothes, so this is the only way. But the people below can't see me… The steward must be worried.'

He glanced at Zhao Yu, whose clothes were also torn and disheveled, looking back at him.

'In the entire hall, only the two of them were improperly dressed. Everyone else had changed into fresh outfits since yesterday.'

... The hall remained silent.

'What is my current image according to the system?'

"Your current image remains dignified and unchanged," the professional and attentive voice of the system whispered into Noah Drake's ear.

'Good.'

Taking a deep breath, Noah Drake addressed the people below with a serious tone.

"Everyone, the weather has suddenly turned cold over the past three days. You must keep your bodies warm."

After this statement, the crowd below exchanged glances but remained silent. No one dared to question the grand declaration of their lord.

Noah observed that they seemed to 'understand' though still hesitant about his words. He continued.

"Who among you has been recognized by the medallion?"

Two individuals stepped forward—one male and one female.

"Lord, I am Thiet Luu. This is Luna Fiona."

Thiet Luu, a tall and muscular young man with a chiseled face, carried a massive hammer on his back. Beside him, Luna Fiona stood with a soft, graceful figure, radiant fair skin, and an adorable face.

Noah frowned as he looked at the two selected. He was somewhat disappointed but didn't bother hiding it.

"Just two? Well, no matter. The rest of you should keep striving. Being recognized by the medallion is no easy task."

'That's right. Even Zhao Yu, the top contender, needs time, so these ordinary people—even if they're favored by the heavens—can't possibly surpass Zhao Yu. Definitely not my fault for instructing them.'

Noah regained his composure, adopting a stern tone as he issued orders to those below.

"Zhao Yu, along with you two, assist the others in gaining recognition from the medallion as soon as possible.

You can also sit under the banyan tree in the courtyard; perhaps it will help clear your minds."

Hearing this, the crowd below seemed relieved. They relaxed their postures and bowed in unison.

"Thank you, Lord, for your generosity."

Noah.

'With the help of the enlightenment tree, everything will be fine.… Let them be. I won't intervene anymore.'

'For now, the priority was to address the lack of food and clothing in the manor. Even if they had brought a few belongings, it wouldn't last long…'

The silence once again blanketed the hall.

It was at this moment that Noah noticed something unusual.

These people… Their attire had subtle differences, as if they had changed into something "different" from yesterday. Their outfits were intricately detailed, with beautiful embroidery—clearly expensive clothing. Every single one of them. Could it be…?

"Oh, right. Did you bring extra clothes? I haven't left the mountain in a long time and am unsure of current fashion trends. I don't want there to be too much difference between us."

Luna Victor stepped forward, his posture composed and his naturally handsome face paired with a polite tone instantly left a favorable impression on Noah.

"My Lord, I have some spare clothing here. If you don't mind, you may use it temporarily."

As soon as he finished speaking, a neatly folded outfit appeared in his hands.

It was a white garment with flowing patterns embroidered in gold, resembling the style of a high-ranking noble. It was exquisite.

Noah didn't question how the clothes appeared, as he was already accustomed to the idea of storage rings or bracelets in this cultivation world. Especially for those chosen by the heavens—even if they were still weak and not as powerful as Zhao Yu, possessing such items was common.

Sigh.

Unlike someone else, a top figure without even a decent outfit to wear.

"Alright, I'll accept it. If you have any concerns or difficulties, feel free to seek help from me or Zhao Yu."

"Oh, and prepare a set for Zhao Yu as well. He needs it too."

Hearing this, Zhao Yu glanced at himself and was immediately touched. "I will follow the Lord's instructions."

Meanwhile, Luna Victor felt slightly exploited. After a moment of hesitation, he quickly recovered and bowed gratefully.

"Thank you, Lord, for your kindness."

From his seat, Noah noticed the stiff expressions on some faces below. But he calmly scanned the crowd, pausing at Zhao Yu before smiling and saying:

"Alright, I entrust the management of your attire and daily living needs to Zhao Yu."

"Zhao Yu, I trust this task won't be too difficult for you."

Zhao Yu seemed to realize something and looked at Noah in confusion. However, Noah didn't give him a chance to respond. He turned to the crowd and declared solemnly:

"Now, I must remind you of the three unbreakable rules of this manor:

First, do not harm the innocent or commit acts against morality.

Second, no one in the manor is to engage in fighting or robbery. If there are disputes, resolve them in the manor's arena.

Third, as long as you adhere to the first two rules, I will always protect you, even if the outside world collapses.

Do you understand?"

Everyone looked at each other before responding in unison.

"Understood."

The resounding answer echoed firmly.

Noah thought to himself, 'I really nailed that speech. I'm born to be a leader.'

"Good. Proceed accordingly. I'll take my leave."

With that, Noah grabbed the new clothes and happily returned to his room.

Zhao Yu watched the mysterious and powerful Lord of the manor leave, sighing internally. 'Three years… It will be a long time.'

Turning back to the group of mortals—young masters and ladies—who had been "tricked" into becoming servants, Zhao Yu spoke firmly.

"Currently, we're short on food supplies and need to replenish them. Those of you who can cook, garden, chop wood, or hunt, step forward. We need to assign tasks to sustain the manor. And as I recall, you didn't bring much with you yesterday."

The group fell silent, exchanging uncertain glances.

The Lord said it was cold, but it wasn't cold at all. Now this sage-like man was talking about cooking, gardening, and chopping wood? What did any of that have to do with conquering the world?