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Seeing everyone hard at work, Kisha and Duke decided to join in.

While Winter’s men focused on cutting down trees, Kisha climbed up the mountain and used her telekinesis to pull tree stumps from the ground effortlessly.

She flung the stumps out into the open, leaving them to dry so they could later be burned and processed into coal.

But Kisha’s efforts didn’t stop there.

After removing each stump, she carefully planted seeds in its place, hoping they would eventually grow into new trees.

Her goal was to ensure that the ecosystem within her territory wouldn’t suffer from the deforestation.

Although there were no wild animals in her domain, Kisha understood the importance of preserving the mountains’ greenery.

Keeping the forest intact would not only benefit the environment but also provide valuable resources in the future.

"Young Madam, where should we put these stumps?" one of Winters’ men asked as he approached, dragging a large tree stump from the other side of the forest.

"I’ve already placed the other stumps down the mountain," Kisha replied. "Could you ask the others to dig a pit there as well?"

"How big should the pit be, Young Madam?"

"Make it a few meters wide and about one and a half meters deep," Kisha instructed after a moment of thought.

She then added, "Also, ask the others to find the largest bucket or container they can and be ready to help cut these stumps once they’ve dried."

The man nodded and left to carry out her orders.

Kisha returned to her work, using her telekinesis to pull another stubborn stump from the ground.

She cleared away the remaining roots before carefully filling the space with dry leaves and ashes, ensuring the area would be ready for planting or further processing.

She hadn’t asked the Winter’s men to help with the stumps, as they were already busy cutting down trees.

However, since they volunteered to assist on their own, she didn’t stop them.

Once she finished clearing one area, she repeated the process, searching for other tree stumps left behind from the cutting.

Fortunately, the men were mindful in their approach. They didn’t cut all the trees in one location.

Instead, they selectively felled trees a few meters apart to ensure the mountain wouldn’t be left bare.

Scattering across the mountain, they worked methodically, cutting trees from various corners to preserve its natural balance.

Some of Winter’s men were scattered along the small river stream up the mountain, all the way down to the lake and swamp areas, collecting clay.

Fortunately, the different locations yielded various types of clay, offering artisans a range of colors and textures to choose from for their crafts.

To keep things organized, the men carefully sorted the clay into separate large containers based on its properties.

The mixing, however, was left to the artisans, as it was their area of expertise.

Meanwhile, others were focused on pulling large rocks from the rocky side of the mountain.

These stones were destined for the stone masters, who would shape them into something of value with their skill and craftsmanship.

’My territory will not run out of rocks and clay, would it?’ Kisha wondered as she watched some of Winter’s men pulling carts laden with large rocks and clay toward the STAU.

This setup ensured the STAU’s wouldn’t have to move back and forth constantly, streamlining their work.

Besides, it served as excellent lower-body training for the Winter’s men, adding an extra benefit to their efforts.

"Don’t worry, Host. Your territory is not like an ordinary mountain," 008 reassured Kisha, sensing her concern.

"How do you think it was created? Certainly not through science. The resources here won’t run out, just as the flow of time in this space differs from reality."

008 understood why Kisha was so worried.

If they continuously extracted resources like rocks, soil, and clay—especially those that couldn’t be replenished—one might assume the territory would eventually shrink.

However, that was impossible.

This space was formed from a cultivator’s lifetime of spiritual energy and cultivation, making its foundation far beyond the limitations of normal physics and science.

Naturally, such depletion wouldn’t happen easily.

As long as there was sufficient spiritual energy, the territory would heal itself, regenerating its resources and restoring balance.

In fact, 008 had once explained that with enough spiritual energy and cultivation, the territory space could even grow into a vast continent.

Recalling 008’s words, Kisha set aside her worries and focused on her work.

But after a moment, she paused and frowned. "Then… doesn’t that make everything I’m doing right now useless?" she asked directly, her voice tinged with frustration.

She had been working tirelessly, believing it was necessary to maintain the balance of her territory’s ecosystem.

"How could that be, Host? Of course, you’re doing the right thing," 008 replied firmly.

"While your territory is self-sufficient and capable of regenerating its resources, if the mountain is littered with tree stumps, where would new trees grow? By taking these actions, you’re helping the territory recover even faster. So no, your efforts aren’t useless."

Kisha could almost picture 008 shrugging its shoulders as it explained, its tone light but reassuring.

Hearing this, Kisha felt a wave of relief and resumed her work with renewed determination. As long as her efforts weren’t in vain, that was all that mattered.

Fortunately, she had just acquired the crystal, which had resolved the issue of spiritual energy.

The longer the crystal remained in its position, the thicker the spiritual energy would become in her territory.

Over time, this would cause the energy to flow more freely, transforming all lifeforms and even the crops into spiritual beings, ultimately benefiting her in the long run.

As Kisha focused on her work, she didn’t realize how far she had already moved.

She was nearly at the base of the mountain, pulling up stumps, and the pile of discarded stumps in the clearing had begun to form a small mountain of its own.

A little further away, Kisha spotted Daisy, happily walking around.

It seemed like she had finished checking on what was going on around the territory and was heading back to her studies on the plants.

An idea suddenly crossed Kisha’s mind, and she decided to wrap up her work and follow Daisy.

After some time, Kisha trailed the little girl as she passed the flower field and ventured into a secluded area where sunlight filtered softly through the tree leaves.

Daisy continued through the bushes, moving deeper into the shade.

As Kisha followed, she could hear the gentle rustle of the wind through the leaves, creating a peaceful, calming atmosphere.

The space wasn’t too bright but not overly dark either, offering the perfect balance of serenity.

Kisha came to a stop when she saw Daisy crouching in a small clearing, bathed in a soft patch of sunlight that filtered through the tree leaves.

The light seemed to spotlight the little girl as she worked.

Daisy pulled out a notebook from her leather shoulder bag, along with a pen, and began sketching while muttering to herself.

"Uh-huh... Don’t worry, you’ll definitely grow into a beautiful flower."

"Do you like it? I think so too."

Kisha’s sharp hearing picked up on Daisy’s words, but there was no one else around.

Curious, she quietly crept closer. As she stood behind Daisy, she noticed a small plant sprout in front of her.

Suddenly, like a startled rabbit, Daisy spun around, catching Kisha off guard.

Kisha had always prided herself on her stealth—no one, not even the most trained bodyguards, could detect her when she was trying to remain unnoticed.

So, when Daisy unexpectedly turned around as if she had sensed her presence, it startled Kisha and made her feel an unexpected blow to her pride.

"W-What are you doing here?" Kisha asked, quickly composing herself.

"Hello, Young Madam!" Daisy immediately stood up and bowed to Kisha before trotting over and handing her the notebook.

Inside was a detailed sketch showing the growth stages of the small sprout in the clearing. "I’m drawing Lily!" she added brightly.

Kisha initially thought Daisy had simply named the sprout "Lily" because she hoped it would bloom into a flower. But as she glanced at the notebook, her attention was drawn to the writing on the page.

Lily: A Mystical Plant

Lily can bear fruit that enhances the success rate of pill and elixir creation.

Lily is amazing...

________

Hello, everyone!

I hope you’re all doing well. I wanted to let you know that I might be a bit slower than usual over the next few days. I’ve been invited to participate in an award ceremony in Shanghai, which has kept me busy recently and will continue to do so in the coming days.

I’ll be flying to Shanghai on the 15th and returning on the 20th. During this time, there are several events lined up, so my schedule will be packed. However, I’ll do my best to release at least one chapter a day for you.

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding, and I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Your support means the world to me!