Steady Cultivation: Starting With the Perk “Work Hard, Rest Hard” Chapter 643: The Foundation of Black Flame City

Black Flame City.

The three Deputy City Lords convened to deliberate on pressing matters.

Jia Jicheng, overseeing commerce, a 33rd-stage Chaos Dominator.

Di You, responsible for military affairs, a 35th-stage Chaos Dominator.

Sima Yuan, handling political affairs, a 34th-stage Chaos Dominator.

Sima Yuan initiated the discussion, saying, "Old Jia, you possess a good rapport with the new City Lord. Share your insights, please."

Jia Jicheng responded, "As you are all likely aware, the new City Lord is a master Artifact Refining Master of considerable renown. My recently acquired Dominator Artifact was personally crafted by him. Consequently, City Lord Seven Stars is not in want of Chaos Jade. This means the rewards he has proposed are, in essence, achievable!"

He first verified the prospect of fulfilling the promised rewards.

Sima Yuan gave a nod and turned his gaze to Di You, inquiring, "Di You, has the current roster of recommended individuals reached the necessary threshold?"

Di You offered an explanation, stating, "This Kalpa is already four-fifths complete, yet the number of recommended individuals stands at a mere 230,000. Based on historical trends, we anticipate approximately 290,000-plus will ultimately qualify, just barely meeting the target."

Sima Yuan remarked, "This time, Black Flame City has successfully repelled the Scavenger tide. For a considerable duration, significant Scavenger incursions are unlikely, thereby alleviating our defensive strain. This allows us to recommend a substantial contingent of our standing army to the Second Frontline!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of Jia Jicheng and the other official shifted.

Di You voiced his concern, stating, "Maintaining an army of one million is a cornerstone of Black Flame City's regulations!"

Sima Yuan gestured dismissively, saying, "I am privy to that particular regulation. It was not originated by Black Flame City, but rather by the Old City Lord. With the new City Lord now in governance, regulations are subject to revision. We can present a petition to City Lord Seven Stars. Should he grant his assent, we stand to procure an immense quantity of Chaos Jade this time!"

Hearing this, Jia Jicheng's demeanor suddenly brightened, exclaiming, "Hiss... Now that you've illuminated this possibility, I perceive the potential for truly colossal gains!"

Sima Yuan directed his question towards Di You, asking, "Brother Di You, what is the estimated number of eligible soldiers we can designate?"

Di You let out a sigh, explaining, "Although the Old City Lord was not actively involved in daily management, he provided substantial funding. The number of 29th-stage soldiers he fostered is likely the highest among all cities. Within the million-strong army, there are a total of one hundred thousand soldiers at the 29th stage!"

"So many!" Jia Jicheng expressed his profound astonishment.

"Numerous individuals were engaged in secluded cultivation and did not typically reveal themselves. Their presence became evident during the recent Scavenger offensive."

Jia Jicheng gave a nod of understanding. He recalled witnessing the deployment of many 29th and even 30th-stage soldiers on the battlefield, though he hadn't tallied their numbers at the time. Reflecting now and counting them retrospectively, the figure indeed surpassed one hundred thousand.

"If we factor them in, might we not achieve a thirty-three percent increase in our recommended numbers?" Jia Jicheng inquired, his voice filled with astonishment.

"Precisely!" Di You confirmed.

"One percent equates to ten thousand Kalpa units, so what figure does thirty-three percent represent?" Jia Jicheng was at a loss for words.

"I overheard that there might not be an upper limit? That could potentially amount to 85 trillion Kalpa units!" Sima Yuan stated with a hint of hesitation.

Jia Jicheng shook his head, remarking, "That method of calculation must be erroneous. How could the rewards escalate exponentially? If that were the case, we would be unable to accept such an astronomical sum either!"

"Let us proceed with submitting an application!" Sima Yuan suggested. "Initially, we shall seek the perspective of City Lord Seven Stars!"

"Agreed!"

The three promptly co-signed the document and dispatched the message to Su Yuan.

Upon receiving the communication from the trio, Su Yuan was rendered utterly speechless.

He meticulously performed the calculations. If the proposal put forth by the three Deputy City Lords were to be followed, the reward Black Flame City would receive this time would indeed tally to 85 trillion.

However, Su Yuan quickly identified a discrepancy. The current count stood at 230,000. Incorporating these additional one hundred thousand would bring the total to 330,000.

The three had factored in an anticipated natural increase of approximately 60,000 from other city residents. Yet, they failed to account for the significant exodus of many individuals from Black Flame City following their successful defense against the Scavenger siege. Consequently, the subsequent natural increase would be considerably diminished.

Therefore, the realistically attainable figure might only reach ten percent of the initial projection. Even then, this would represent a substantial windfall of ten million Kalpa units.

"Did I misinterpret the calculation methodology?"

Su Yuan promptly retrieved the City Lord's token to verify his understanding. It was then that he realized he had indeed been overthinking the matter.

The established progression was ten thousand, twenty thousand, forty thousand, eighty thousand, one hundred twenty thousand, two hundred thousand, and so forth.

Though he felt slightly deceived by the initial inflated figure, the actual progression was more logical.

Consequently, if a ten percent increase were realized, it would amount to merely 1.36 million Kalpa units.

The sum was substantial, yet not overwhelmingly immense.

After a brief contemplation, Su Yuan responded to the trio, "Proceed as planned. However, do not harbor expectations of acquiring an excessive amount of Chaos Jade. The calculation method requires refinement. Current projections suggest you should be able to obtain 1.36 million Kalpa units."

Upon receiving Su Yuan's assessment, Jia Jicheng and the other two felt elation rather than disappointment.

While the initial calculation of 85 trillion Chaos Jade had seemed impossibly grand, this figure of 1.36 million Kalpa units presented a tangible possibility.

Securing such an amount would undoubtedly lead to immense wealth!

With Su Yuan's endorsement secured, the three promptly began instructing the 29th-stage soldiers within their respective forces to prepare for deployment to the Second Frontline.

In an uncharacteristic display of generosity, the three Deputy City Lords announced a subsidy of 1 Kalpa unit for every soldier who volunteered for the Second Frontline.

This substantial reward ignited excitement among the troops. Although the payment might be delayed, the city government's reputation for reliability was well-established, and the Alliance system's verification process precluded any possibility of fraud.

Virtually all soldiers readily accepted the offer, having already harbored a desire to serve on the Second Frontline. The added incentive of a severance payment made the prospect irresistible.

Observing this widespread acceptance, Jia Jicheng conferred with the other Deputy City Lords.

"I propose we extend invitations to the Dominators within Black Flame City who meet the necessary criteria. Should they agree to join Black Flame City's ranks and serve on the Second Frontline, they too will receive a subsidy of 1 Kalpa unit. What are your thoughts?" Jia Jicheng presented his idea.

"An excellent proposition! I fear any delay might lead to policy shifts. If this initiative is revised, we might forfeit the reward. It is imperative we maximize this number swiftly. I suspect there's a time constraint, otherwise, unscrupulous individuals might manipulate the system, leading to an absurdly inflated reward pool!" Sima Yuan exclaimed.

"A time limit!" Jia Jicheng's brow furrowed in agreement. "Indeed, the City Lord's message did not specify an end date for this event, implying it could conclude at any moment. Our priority must be to achieve a higher number within a short timeframe to secure the reward!"

Having reached a consensus, the three immediately broadcasted a city-wide announcement.

Word of Black Flame City's official declaration swiftly spread among travelers, merchants, residents, and outsiders alike.

"Has Black Flame City suddenly come into a fortune? Offering such bountiful rewards! Hurry, sign up before it's too late! A compensation of 1 Kalpa unit is an opportunity too tempting to miss!"