With the surrender of thousands of elites from the Elf Tribe, Lina Starseeker, the former legion commander, was appointed by Wu Liang as the commander of a brand-new mixed unit.
This unit, composed of the Elf Tribe's top archers and mages, would serve as the sword of the Black Rock Army, reporting directly to Wu Liang himself to execute the most difficult special operations.
The complete integration of the Elf Tribe, combined with the total annihilation of the Roland Empire's 'Disciplinary Army,' marked that no force in the vast Western Territory could shake Wu Liang's rule anymore.
He was now, in name and in fact, the King of the Western Territory.
One month later.
"Woo—!"
A long, loud whistle pierced the morning silence of Tiee Fortress.
Under the reverent gazes of his retainers, a special train pulled by the "black rock" Steam Locomotive head slowly departed from the station.
Its destination was hundreds of miles away, the starting point of Wu Liang's hegemony—Black Rock City.
This iron artery, connecting Wu Liang's two core territories and built by tens of thousands of captives working day and night, was finally fully operational today!
Wu Liang sat comfortably in a luxury observation car specially built for him, his nose filled with the rich fragrance of a dozen different women's body scents.
To his left was the soft-bodied, golden-haired Aniya Merlin, her small hand curiously stroking the cool glass of the carriage window.
To his right was the curvaceous and naturally seductive logistics chief, Florgloria, who was considerately peeling a purple berry for him.
Behind him stood a row of vivid and beautiful women.
The tall and wild Wei Xian, the enchanting and intellectual Eliza, the fierce and upright Akomann, the athletic and cheerful Sa Lan, the heroic and fiery Ignis, the mature and hot-tempered Suina, the petite and lovely Lolia... along with the distinguished Elf Queen Sylvia, who had been invited aboard, her sister Irene, and her confidante Lina. Wu Liang's harem had reached an unprecedented scale.
The train roared like thunder across the plains. The scenery outside the window receded rapidly, drawing gasps of surprise from the women in the carriage.
The sides of the railway were no longer barren land, but an endless sea of wheat rolling in golden waves.
Under the dual catalysis of Wu Liang's Earths Grace and the Elf Tribe's natural magic, the Western Territory welcomed a terrifyingly massive harvest this year that would go down in history.
On the distant horizon, newly built granaries stood tall like hills.
The mountains of grain not only completely eradicated any panic about hunger within the territory but also became the most substantial capital for Wu Liang to launch his next conquest.
Sylvia's gaze crossed the wheat fields, seeing the farmers working on the ridges.
Their skin was dark, yet their faces beamed with a heartfelt, happy smile she had never seen among the lower classes of humanity.
As the special train passed, they would stop their farm work and wave their arms toward the train with all their might, their eyes filled with fanatical worship.
That look was one she had only seen when elves looked up at the World Tree.
It was the worship of a deity.
Perhaps submitting to this man really was the best destiny for the Elf Tribe.
Roland Empire, Imperial Capital.
After receiving the news of Marshal Grom's defeat and the annihilation of the fifty-thousand-strong army along with the half-god level consecrated expert, the Emperor suffered a sudden rush of blood to the heart, spat out a mouthful of blood, and had been bedridden ever since.
He wanted to send troops again, but he was met with opposition from the conservatives.
More fatally, the barbarian Tribes in the north of the empire smelled blood. Taking advantage of the power vacuum in the Western Territory, they launched a large-scale invasion unseen in ten years, pinning down the empire's remaining main forces at the northern defensive line.
Under internal strife and external threats, the Roland Empire's loss of control over the Western Territory had become a foregone conclusion.
They could only hold their noses and humiliatingly acquiesce to the existence of Wu Liang, the new King of the Western Territory.
At this moment, the long-awaited system notification sounded in Wu Liang's mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the stage mission: Unify the Western Territory!]
[Territory, population, military power, and influence have all reached the standard. System modules are updating!]
[Ding! Electrical Technology Tree (Level 1) unlocked!]
[1. Basic Telegraph Communication: Unlocked full technical drawings for wired telegraph machines and Morse code.]
[2. Primary Internal Combustion Engine Theory: Unlocked basic theory and design drawings for gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines.]
As his career map expanded rapidly, Wu Liang also encountered new "troubles."
His harem was truly too lively.
Especially Akomann and Sylvia.
"Liang, I'll accompany you tonight."
Akomann's voice was crisp and direct, carrying an unquestionable possessiveness.
"Mr. Wu Liang is going to discuss the deep connection between natural magic and photosynthesis with me tonight."
Sylvia's voice was cold and proud; even though she had submitted, that queenly air remained unchanged.
Before Wu Liang could speak, invisible sparks were already flying between the two women.
To balance this intensifying harem war, Wu Liang even had to create a schedule detailed down to every hour, using both soft and hard tactics to barely maintain a surface level of peace.
His gaze passed over the Western Territory, which was now completely under his control, and looked toward the even more distant south.
On the map, two names were marked there that moved his heart.
Gold Coast Merchant Federation.
Storm Dragon Island.
The former was filthy rich, controlling the economic lifeline of the continent.
The latter was home to the top of the world's food chain, the most powerful legendary creatures—Dragons.
Just as he was calculating who to strike first, Florgloria knocked and entered, her curvaceous body carrying a scent like a mature peach.
"Liang, there's something you need to decide personally."
She handed over a document, her expression carrying a hint of gravity.
"A merchant caravan calling itself from the Gold Coast Merchant Federation arrived at Tiee Fortress three days ago."
"They have shown an extraordinary interest in the perfumes, glass mirrors, and especially... the silk stockings produced by our workshops."
Florgloria paused and added.
"The leader is a woman named Reina, very shrewd. As soon as she spoke, she wanted to use a price we couldn't refuse to buy out the exclusive sales rights for all silk stockings for the coming year."
A light flashed in the depths of Wu Liang's eyes.
He had a strong premonition.
This woman and this batch of goods might just be the key to prying open the gates of the south.
He walked to the window, overlooking this iron city he had built with his own hands and the thousands of miles of territory outside that belonged to him, slowly clenching his fist.
"The Western Territory is just a beginning."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an ambition to swallow the world.
"Pass my order!"
"Summon all legion commanders and department heads. Tomorrow morning, a highest-level meeting!"
Wu Liang's voice echoed in the office, carrying unquestionable authority.
The order was transmitted like mercury spreading across the floor. The entire core layer of the massive Western Territory Alliance, this war machine serving him alone, instantly began to operate at high speed.
The next morning, in the largest conference room of Tiee Fortress, there were no empty seats around the huge oval conference table.
On the left side were the military generals led by the Chief Commander of the Legions, Akomann.
Lina, Sa Lan, Ignis... each one stood tall with sharp eyes, carrying an indelible aura of iron and blood.
On the right side were the civilian high-ranking officials led by the Chief of Internal Affairs, Florgloria.
High Priest Eliza, Medical School Dean Alesha, Military Industry Chief Suina, minister of agriculture Lolia, Magic Academy Principal Aniya... and Irene, who had just integrated into the system and was responsible for Elf Tribe affairs.
Sylvia, as a nominal 'distinguished guest' with a transcendent status, sat next to Wu Liang, looking at this group of former 'barbarian women' with a complex expression.
It was they who, in a short time, had assisted this man in building a terrifying power that even she, a half-god, felt palpitations from.
These people were the foundation of Wu Liang's current power.
Wu Liang sat in the main seat, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room, and the noisy discussions instantly vanished.
His fingers lightly tapped the tabletop, making a rhythmic 'knock-knock' sound.
"Everyone is here."
Wu Liang got straight to the point.
"Today, two things."
"First, regarding the Roland Empire."
His gaze fell on Akomann.
"Grom's fifty thousand pigs are all dead, and that old Emperor is now a half-dead medicine jar. The northern barbarians will help us pin them down for a long time, but we cannot remain idle. Akomann."
"Present!"
Akomann stood up abruptly, her posture like a javelin.