Chapter 0364: Three Months

If it weren't for the existence of the Star Web, Yi Tianxing would never have implemented the Nine-Rank Military System. Without it, that would have been courting death. So, to a certain extent, unless there is something like the Star Web—or at least a fair and just way to track military contributions—this system cannot be replicated. Even if someone tries to copy it, it might bring massive hidden dangers.

That's precisely why he revealed the Nine-Rank Military System openly and without hesitation.

He had no fear of others copying it or targeting him.If they had the capability, they were welcome to try.

The introduction of the Nine-Rank Military System had a massive psychological impact on the people of Xuanhuang Town.

The number of people joining the army skyrocketed once more.There was a dramatic increase.

To people from other villages and tribes, this was a strong deterrent—especially for some of the wandering cultivators. They could instinctively feel the overwhelming might of the army through this system. If successfully implemented, it wouldn't just be an ordinary army anymore—it would become something akin to the legendary Heavenly Soldiers and Generals. Even cultivators would be brutally suppressed and swept aside.

"What a bold move, this Nine-Rank Military System. This Yi Tianxing really has guts. Looks like we barbarians need to seriously rethink our relationship with the human race. The strength of this Xuanhuang Town already surpasses that of our tribes."

A tall, burly man wearing beast hide and wielding an axe looked at the public notice, a heavy expression appearing in his eyes. He was Niu Ben, a strong warrior of the barbarian tribe.

He clearly understood how significant the impact could be if the system succeeded. This was a way to forge a powerful army.

"It seems we need to establish a good relationship with the humans—or at least with Xuanhuang Town. The world now is far too dangerous. Our tribe doesn't have many people, and every loss is a devastating blow."

Next to him stood a stocky dwarf with bronze-colored skin, exuding a strong visual impact. He was Tong Chui of the dwarf race.

Both Niu Ben and Tong Chui had entered Xuanhuang Town during the previous major battle against the foreign races. While they hadn't participated directly in the fighting, they had witnessed the entire war firsthand. They had felt the brutality of battle and seen the overwhelming strength of Xuanhuang Town.

Whether it was the city defense or the final underground clash, they saw it all.

And Yi Tianxing hadn't tried to hide anything from them, allowing them to observe freely. This kind of openness earned their respect. At least in their own lands, they admitted they couldn't be so magnanimous.

It was a show of confidence rooted in true strength.

Now, seeing the Nine-Rank Military System in action, they could almost see a powerful human settlement rising steadily—like the sun at dawn.

They had no choice but to start making decisions of their own.

The next day, Niu Ben of the barbarians left Xuanhuang Town.On the third day, Tong Chui of the dwarves also left.

…

Time passed quietly.Unknowingly, three months had gone by.

In these three months, Xuanhuang Town had undergone earth-shaking changes.

All around its outskirts, vast fields had been reclaimed, golden rice growing tall and shimmering with the hopeful glow of sunlight. It was a glorious, colorful sight. Villagers worked in the fields, their faces radiant with genuine joy as they looked at the golden rice paddies.

These bountiful harvests represented hope—an explosion of life.

Nearby, vegetable gardens had also been reclaimed.

Various vegetables and fruits were being cultivated.

Amazingly, these vegetables and fruits were much larger than before. Cabbage could grow as tall as a person, and eggplants as big as a four- or five-year-old child. Some eggplant trees had grown several meters high.

Scenes like these showed that the local environment had drastically transformed. The presence of Heaven and Earth Vital Energy allowed even ordinary crops to undergo astonishing growth and transformation. While they hadn't yet reached the level of true spiritual vegetables, under the nourishment of vital energy, their size and taste far exceeded natural limits. Given time, they might evolve into true spirit vegetables.

But that would take a while.

For now, these vegetables contained only a faint trace of spiritual energy—just enough to enhance their flavor. Nothing more.

In three months, the once rundown Xuanhuang Town had changed completely.

Buildings rose one after another.

The scale of the construction was massive. Aside from essential infrastructure, most were residential houses—densely packed and numerous.

The east was designated for military and government buildings—one gate, two towers, six halls. The north became the residential area. The west housed the military camp. The south became the market. Most residential buildings were clustered in the north, though mansions for high-ranking officials were scattered throughout other areas. These official mansions were far grander and more luxurious than those of ordinary citizens.

Figures like Huang Chengyan had already moved in. Living in these mansions was also a symbol of status.

The liveliest place was the market.

That area was packed with visitors from other villages and tribes, trading and chatting. It was vibrant and bustling, filled with a strong sense of commerce. Townspeople often strolled through the market for leisure.

Especially now that Xuanhuang Town's reputation had spread widely following the recent war.

The daily stream of refugees arriving gave a glimpse into the town's newfound influence. Not to mention that within a radius of tens of thousands of miles, most villages now viewed Xuanhuang Town as the center of trade and communication. The town had become truly prosperous—taking on the scale and atmosphere of a great human city. Calling it a "town" was an understatement—it was already more bustling and immense than many ancient cities.

The population of the town had officially surpassed 400,000.

Everything was beginning to fall into place.

Xuanhuang Town was thriving.

In the military camp, the army had reached a full strength of 100,000 soldiers.

The Nine-Rank Military System had been fully implemented. Almost every soldier, upon joining, had been training desperately, seizing every opportunity to grow stronger. Everyone wanted to stand out. Under the camp's growing atmosphere of iron-blooded discipline and killing intent, cultivation levels were increasing daily. People were breaking through realms constantly.

They were truly becoming powerful.

Leaders like Yang Ye and Wang Dahu had made rapid progress, opening the twelve main meridians and eight extraordinary ones, and condensing their Divine Spring—advancing to the first level of the Divine Spring Realm. Combining cultivation and merit, they were promoted to second-rank Heavenly Soldiers, though they still nominally held honorary titles as Heavenly Generals.

As for the common people who had joined Xuanhuang Town, the haggard looks of the past were gone. Their faces now radiated confidence, some even carrying a faint aura of killing intent. They exuded a different kind of energy. Nearly all of them had become cultivators, having opened their Divine Seas. Their essence, energy, and spirit had drastically changed.

Most crucially, even their personalities seemed to have been influenced by Xuanhuang Town—becoming more ferocious.

This was a subtle, transformative influence.

…

In the mansion's hall—

Yi Tianxing sat with Huang Chengyan and the others.

Huang Chengyan, Master Lu, Xue Jin, Jia Xu, Wu Yong, Yang Ye, and other key figures were all gathered. A hint of tension lingered on their faces.

"My lord, isn't it a bit too risky to begin privatization now?" Huang Chengyan asked cautiously.

"Indeed. Once we privatize, it means the communal pot ends. No more free meals. To obtain anything, one must pay a price and labor for it. To manage this, we must prepare a massive amount of currency to stabilize the situation. At that point, inequality will naturally emerge."

Xue Jin also nodded.

"But I believe now is the best time to break the communal system," said Wu Yong, fanning himself. "The longer it continues, the harder it will be to dismantle later. Only when people have private property will they have motivation and goals. If we handle it with care and prepare well, the transition will go smoothly."

Jia Xu nodded in agreement.

"If we keep everything public and communal, our power base will turn stagnant. Stagnant water breeds no dragons, nor can it keep fish. Only flowing water breeds mighty dragons."

"Ending the communal system and beginning privatization is something I've already decided," Yi Tianxing declared firmly. "And I've already made the necessary preparations. The core of privatization is currency, and I've got that ready. As long as we make it through the initial hurdles, the rest will come naturally. People will adapt to the new rules over time."

This meeting was about ending the communal meal system and formally initiating privatization and self-reliance.

It was a major issue tied to the livelihood of the entire town.

With a population of over 400,000, continuing the communal system would severely hinder Xuanhuang Town's growth. Completing this transition was already unavoidable—the sooner, the better.

Xuanhuang Town does not support idlers.No one gets anything for free.