Chapter 563

【 FIRST COMPLETED CITY 】

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Warm sunlight bathed the land as cheerful songs of the birds echoed through the lush forest. In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed in the world of Seigües.

It was the beginning of May. A gentle spring breeze swept across the land, bringing with it a renewed sense of life as nature thrived in full bloom.

Throughout this past month, the topic of constructing new cities had remained a focal point of discussion and attention among the players.

By this point, the momentum behind the construction efforts showed no signs of slowing. Participation levels held steady near their peak, with almost 250,000 players logged in simultaneously across the server. Each individual, whether gathering materials, laying foundations, or organizing logistics, played a vital role in the sprawling development of multiple city-building sites.

The results were highly commendable, and with the aid of magic, the players showcased exceptional construction speed, once again living up to their reputation as “infrastructure fanatics.”

Under the guidance of veteran players, the majority of the 200,000 newcomers from the public beta devoted their in-game time over the past month entirely to the task of city-building.

One building task after another became a routine part of their daily gameplay.

Thanks to these tireless efforts, in just over a month, the fastest guild had nearly completed their most critical infrastructure.

This included the Temple of Life, Central Plaza, City Hall, Guild Headquarters, Residential District, Commercial District, and more.

In other words, they had met the official requirements for founding a city. Therefore, the holy statue of the Goddess could now be enshrined, a city management system established, and an official name applied for to be displayed on the world map.

Contrary to popular expectation, the honor of being the first guild to meet the foundational requirements did not go to Moe Moe Committee. Instead, it was Heart of Nature, which currently holds the distinction of having the highest total membership on the server, that achieved this milestone first.

However, those who visited the construction sites of both guilds would recognize the reasons behind this outcome.

Although Moe Moe Committee had extensive experience in infrastructure development, the location they chose presented considerable difficulties. Even with magical assistance, erecting a city on top of a mountain proved exceptionally challenging.

In contrast, Heart of Nature chose to build their city in a river bay area with flat terrain and the assistance of local NPCs, which significantly accelerated their progress.

On the eastern border of the Elven Forest, along the constantly flowing Vymur River, a city had already begun to take shape. Built from white stone and adorned with flowers and greenery, it presented a striking and beautiful sight.

This city was named Grey Haven by Heart of Nature.

Evé, whilst donning her “Féng” persona, sat atop a unicorn and gazed at the new city that had risen in just over a month.

She nodded silently in approval.

Although the walls of Grey Haven had yet to be fully constructed, with only the imposing city gate standing in place, the foundation beneath was robust and firmly established. Moving forward, the challenge would no longer be about starting from scratch but rather about carefully refining existing structures and steadily expanding the city’s fortifications and infrastructure. ṛАꞐ𝘰ᛒЕṠ

The city rose with the grace of classic elven design, with every building etched in delicate carvings and ancient motifs. Towering and dignified, each structure whispered of elegance, and even the city gate stood proudly, echoing the artistry of its creators.

Clearly, Heart of Nature had poured their heart and soul into shaping a city that felt genuinely elvish.

The roads were laid with white stone bricks—broad, straight, and efficiently connected in all directions.

And throughout the city, players moved busily, some transporting construction materials in wheelbarrows as they continued their labor with unwavering dedication.

Evé gently patted her unicorn’s neck, prompting the creature to snort softly before trotting forward with graceful poise. Together, they passed through the city gates and entered the settlement.

The interior of the city remained rather sparse at this stage.

Though the main thoroughfares had already been completed, many plots of land on either side lay empty, marked only with stakes and boundary markers.

It was clear that these sections had been set aside for future development.

Still, as Evé ventured deeper into the city, the landscape began to change. Buildings became more frequent, with residential houses, commercial streets, taverns, blacksmith shops, and workshops already constructed.

She even spotted some elves and half-elves among the bustling crowds.

Intrigued, she quietly approached them on her unicorn.

As she drew near, their conversation became audible:

“Hey, Fellis. Good morning.”

“Sir? What are you doing here? Isn’t the temple already completed? I thought you finished your trial. You should be eligible to apply to the Church for bloodline purification and become a true elf.”

“Praise the great Goddess Eve! Yes, the temple is complete, and the Church has indeed notified me that I can head to Florence for bloodline purification. But after some thought, I feel like living here might actually be a better choice. Besides, now that the temple here is fully functional, I can undergo the purification ritual right here as well.”

“Oh? Are you planning to settle down here?”

“Yeah, haha. After helping out here for so many days, I’ve really grown to love this place. So I decided to stay.”

“But didn’t you originally plan to remain in Kenorland as an assistant priest between the two realms? You even passed the priesthood trial for that.”

“That was my original plan. But now, I think Grey Haven has great potential. As for being a priest, I can still serve here. One of the Chosen Ones even invited me to stay. Once my bloodline is purified, I’ll be able to serve as a priest in Grey Haven!”

“That’s good to hear since I was invited too.”

“Oh, you were as well?”

“That’s right. I’ve been helping out with forging tools around here recently. Over time, I became acquainted with the Chosen Ones, and they invited me to stay and become an artisan. They’ve even assigned me a workshop!”

“That’s wonderful! They also told me I could choose a villa to live in. I’ve already made up my mind, once I settle down here and things go smoothly, I plan to bring Elia and the others over too. I’ll even build a small garden behind the villa, just like the one we had back home.”

“Elia? Has she undergone bloodline purification as well?”

“Yes, she has. Both she and little Millie have ascended here to the Upper Realm. They’re currently undergoing trials in Kenorland!”

“That’s great! Your whole family will be reunited now.”

“It’s all thanks to the Goddess. Her blessing has granted us longer lifespans, greater strength, and bringing us into a much broader world!”

“Praise the Goddess!”

“Praise the Goddess!”

“Haha, enough talk. I need to finish this task quickly so I can head to the plaza and watch the city founding ceremony!”

“Let’s go together!”

…

After listening for a while, Evé quickly understood their situation.

“So it turned out they’re from Ouros and were planning to settle here.”

With the rapid increase in her believers within the demirealm of Ouros, an expanding number of half-elves became eligible to purify their bloodlines.

As the leading force which facilitated their “ascension,” the guild Heart of Nature enlisted their aid in the city-building efforts once construction commenced, and as they helped shape and develop the city’s infrastructure, many of these half-elves eventually chose to establish permanent residence in the city.

It made sense.

Even though Grey Haven was not yet fully constructed, anyone could see that it was destined to become a beautiful city in the future.

Naturally, it was appealing to those elves and half-elves who had yet to establish a permanent home here in Seigües.

For the players, this was a welcome development.

After all, even Chosen City could not operate with just the players alone, let alone a new city like Grey Haven.

Therefore, inviting native elves to reside here in the city and serve in various roles as city NPCs would help resolve numerous challenges.

For instance, if they attracted enough NPCs, their personal quests alone could meet the players’ everyday gaming needs.

In a sense, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Ouros was home to several million inhabitants, so for those living there, the realm of Seigües remained a highly attractive destination.

In the future, the number of blood purified elves arriving here in the Seigües would certainly only continue to grow.

Although Kenorland could serve as a settlement for those who had newly ascended from Ouros, that one city alone would not be enough, and integrating them into player-founded cities was also a viable direction for growth.

Moreover, believers who settled within these new cities could offer divine power to the Goddess through the temple’s holy statue, thereby ensuring that the city’s divine defenses remained operational.

“In time, these seven new cities may no longer be populated mostly by players.” Evé muttered with a smile.

That, she thought, might be a good thing.

With a cheerful smile, she gave the unicorn a light pat and pressed on toward the heart of the city.

Grey Haven’s central district was strategically developed along the river.

By the time Evé arrived, the area was noticeably more developed and vibrant compared to the city’s entrance.

Not only were the buildings more densely packed, but the number of players had also greatly increased.

A spacious plaza occupied the riverfront, with a newly constructed dock emerging on one side.

The impressive scale of the dock reflected the strategic importance Heart of Nature attributed to the area. It was evident that their goal was to transform Grey Haven into a major port city.

Evé even saw a few merchant ships along the river flying flags from some human nations.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the plaza stood a grand building still under construction, resembling both a palace and a fortress.

That was likely to be the headquarters of Heart of Nature.

Adjacent to it, the Temple of Life was also under development. however, the temple had already reached completion.

A large crowd of players had gathered in the plaza, and Evé spotted many familiar faces among them.

Li Mu, Demacia, Meng Zhihan, Dōngdōng… all senior members of Heart of Nature were present.

Additionally, a growing number of players, elves, and half-elves were continuously arriving from all directions.

Evé even caught sight of several short-statured dark dwarves among the crowd.

Well, it was to be expected since today was a special day—at least for the members of Heart of Nature and the native inhabitants planning to settle here.

Grey Haven had now met the basic criteria to formally enshrine a holy statue of the Goddess and be registered on the game’s official map.

Evé did not approach the crowd. Instead, she simply watched from a distance.

She saw Alice emerge from the newly completed temple, accompanied by several elven priests. Together, they carried a nearly five-meter-tall statue of the Goddess into the temple.

The statue had already received Eve’s blessing and could now serve as a node within her faith network.

Accompanying the statue was a semi-transparent, softly glowing crystalline cube.

This was the city’s defensive core which was personally forged by Evé within her divine kingdom and bestowed upon the new city.

It would serve as the heart of Grey Haven’s divine protective barrier.

From the direction of the temple came the distant sound of prayer. Faintly, Evé could hear the prayers of her believers, specifically from Alice.

This had been Eve’s divine directive to her: once the city constructed by the Chosen Ones fulfilled the conditions for official establishment, she was to pray to the Goddess, who would then bestow her blessing upon the new city.

Of course, the young holy maiden could never have imagined that the very Goddess she was so devoutly praying to was currently disguised and observing from the outskirts of the crowd…

Upon hearing their prayer, Evé wasted no time and she immediately connected with her faith network and responded.

In an instant, the statue radiated a dazzling brilliance.

Under the astonished gazes of the everyone in the vicinity, numerous shimmering green particles slowly descended from the sky, as it enveloped the entire city of Grey Haven.

Moments later, all the recently transplanted flora within the city began to grow rapidly. Yet, their growth followed a mysterious and harmonious pattern, as if guided by an unseen hand…

Before long, the entire city was teeming with lush and vibrant greenery.

Flowers bloomed in abundance, and verdant foliage spread throughout, seamlessly blending with the urban landscape.

At the same time, both players and believers alike within the city felt a gentle, warm energy surge into their bodies.

Players were delighted to discover that their experience points had increased significantly. Particularly those who are already at the max level cap received various enhancement buffs.

As for the believers, they could clearly feel their bodies becoming healthier, their strength growing more potent.

This was the blessing of the Goddess of Life.

Soon, cheers and songs of praise filled the plaza.

Meanwhile, a soft notification chime rang in the game system for all online players.

A new message appeared in their interface:

【

】

【Heart of Nature has completed the foundational construction requirements of a new city. The city ‘Grey Haven’ has now been added to the game’s official map.】

【 City name: Grey Haven, City Lord: Li Mu 】

【 The teleportation array connecting Chosen City to Grey Haven has now been activated. 】

Simultaneously, all players noticed a change in the minimap in the top-right corner of their screen.

Specifically, to the east of the Elven Forest, on the western bank of the Vymur River, a new city icon had appeared.

Displayed above it was an elegant script that read: “Grey Haven”!

With that, Heart of Nature’s city had officially received in-game recognition.

Shortly thereafter, jubilant cheers resonated throughout the plaza, signaling the beginning of the festivities.

Drawing upon their extensive experience from numerous celebrations in Chosen City, the players had meticulously prepared everything, and a diverse array of delicacies had already been arranged for the occasion.

However, Evé had no intention of participating.

She did not plan to continue watching, nor did she intend to participate in the festivities.

Six more cities were yet to be completed, and no doubt, each guild would throw its own celebration when the time came.

Thus, there was no need for her to show up at all of them.

Perhaps a quick visit here and there or maybe grabbing a skewer at a late-night barbecue would do just fine.

The successful establishment of each city, along with the smooth progression of her plans, provided ample satisfaction for Evé.

She now had another important matter to address.

“The first newly constructed city has been completed. The next step is to consider unlocking the World Tree’s divine kingdom on the map.

“However, it would be more prudent to wait a little longer. Unlocking it after the First Legion’s city is completed would be the preferable course of action.”

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