Upon returning to the base, Lu Luo began to formally arrange for the residents he had sheltered to start working. His leadership approach was simple: everyone had to work, must work, with no excuses for refusal. Based on the abilities of the sheltered, Lu Luo roughly divided them into three categories, treating them all uniformly as workers.

Those with combat capabilities and the talents of Transcendents were the warrior-type workers. These people would be led by Gu Fangyi to clear the surrounding Exotic Species, train, provide security, and organize combat. This group had the highest treatment and could also be promoted to become members of the Circular.

Then there were those with either the ability or the labor, but who were very poor at fighting or unwilling to fight. For them, Lu Luo allocated various types of labor work. For example, Lu Luo had Gu Fangyi and his team haul back an energy bar production line from a food factory, and they also needed many seeds. All of these required the laborers to handle. Those who were unwilling to fight could only work as laborers, at the very least contributing their physical strength.

Besides combat personnel and laborers, there were many elderly, weak, sick, and disabled. Such people virtually had no channels for promotion, but Lu Luo still arranged work for them: public sanitation, cleaning, organizing, and carrying. They could lack efficiency, but they had to work without exception.

These people worked for Lu Luo to create value and maintain order and stability. In return, Lu Luo provided them with safe surroundings, food, water, and most importantly, medical care. This was the most basic form of societal balance.

While there were complaints from some people, Lu Luo had a straightforward way of dealing with the discontented. Those who didn't cause trouble were directly kicked out to fend for themselves. As for those who did cause trouble, they would be dealt with by Gu Fangyi!

Apart from these three types of worker roles, all more important administrative roles were held by members of Circle Studio. The Circular's people had, after all, gone through the most basic screening, and they were trusted to lead the administration. This area was entirely Zhou Kai's responsibility! Qi Xinzhu was still responsible for medical care, while Bai Yuetong continued to handle research and weapons manufacturing. However, at Lu Luo's strong insistence, Bai Yuetong recently repaired some of the hauled back food machinery and various types of assembly lines. It was only with machines and assembly lines that the laborers had something to do.

After everything was arranged and allocated properly, order and development proceeded efficiently and methodically. Although there were many problems and setbacks during this period, the overall growth was palpably felt. Especially for the combat team members, Lu Luo directly taught them the Hunter Six Paths. Teaching the Hunter's secret techniques without any reservations to those who weren't even official members, Lu Luo faced much opposition, even from Bai Yuetong who lacked strength. This was indeed crazy, but Lu Luo still did it.

What this brought about was a period of stability for the entire combat group. With the Hunter Six Paths, the probability of detrimental mutations had drastically decreased. However, due to the lack of secrecy, the Six Paths would also be spread through word of mouth by some. This was of no concern to Lu Luo; he wanted the Hunter Six Paths to be well propagated because the Fourth Ring now had a sufficiently strong foundation. Strengthening the entire Fourth Ring was Ludie's wish, as well as the wish of Lu Luo and the others. Although the Six Paths weren't the most top-notch cultivation technique, they triumphed in their comprehensiveness. Promoting the Six Paths at this time was naturally twice as effective with half the effort.

Lu Luo's actions, while facing resistance from various gang leaders, also gained the approval of many more who craved peace. Especially some non-Transcendent technical talents began to join Lu Luo's group one after another. Centered around the Circular Base, they began to establish some simple food and daily necessities factories. In the following period, Lu Luo personally experienced the development and transformation of Circle Studio. This change restored the slum area to a form of small society.

Late at night, at the Hunter shooting range, Lu Xiaotian was holding a pistol much bigger than her palm, practicing her shooting. BANG! BANG! BANG! Each bullet would land just behind the previous one; her shooting accuracy was simply more outrageous than Gu Fangyi, who possessed Hawk Eye. Although Gu Fangyi's visual ability was powerful, his fingers still had a slight instability. But Lu Xiaotian was different; her arm was completely still when she fired, or you could say, frozen.

Putting down the pistol, Lu Xiaotian looked at the weapon in her hands with great satisfaction. Although she had learned much human knowledge during her time at Nightmare Castle, this systematic and highly integrated exposure to the human combat system, establishing a cognitive framework of human knowledge, was her first experience. Firearms are really outrageous; even ordinary people can launch attacks of the Third Tier level! It's said that there are even more powerful weapons and equipment in the Inner Ring, some of which can even pierce through the bodies of the Lords in one hit. It's quite impressive.

Tong Yan at her side couldn't quite understand the significance of Lu Xiaotian studying these things! "With your strength, you don't need these things anymore, right?"

Lu Xiaotian shook her head. "You don't understand. These things and a complete knowledge framework are exactly what I need! Just like Noah—even though he has developed many intelligent mechanical species and established Paradise, he never stopped researching human weapons. What he lacks now is emotion and human information. What I lack is cognition, wisdom, and systems. We are both learning and have never stopped!"

Tong Yan nodded her head. In any case, Lu Xiaotian was the master, and she was the follower. Whatever the master said was right; all she had to do was obey. "Someone is coming!"

Lu Xiaotian's face returned to a childlike expression, and with just a snap of her fingers, the bullet holes on the target were already redistributed. And at the same moment, Yang Liya walked in.

"Da Tian, did you shoot this target?" Yang Liya pointed at the target; the results of this round of shooting were exaggerated. Ten bullets, all hitting the target. Although the bullets were unevenly distributed, this was Lu Xiaotian's first time shooting!

"Of course. It's just a pity not all of them hit the bullseye!"

Looking at Lu Xiaotian's matter-of-fact demeanor, Yang Liya didn't quite know what to say for a moment. Maybe this is what talent is. Lu Xiaotian perfectly inherited the talents of Ludie and Qiu Guling. In some sense, Lu Xiaotian's future might be even stronger than Ludie's. Through the time spent together, Yang Liya had come to understand Lu Xiaotian quite well. She had a lively personality but didn't like to play with children her age, even appearing somewhat out of place. She usually only played with the sisters Tong Yan and Tong Meng, who had saved many lives. This didn't seem very strange to Yang Liya—after all, they were Lu Xiaotian's lifesavers.

What Yang Liya found curious was Lu Xiaotian's physical constitution. Although only eight years old, her body was already showing signs of naturally absorbing Dark Energy. This was the part that Yang Liya found incredible. Normally, such signs wouldn't appear until one approached adulthood. Lu Xiaotian's constitution was too special! Yang Liya did not know if this was a gift from the heavens to Lu Xiaotian, or the last wish of Ludie. But one thing that could be confirmed now was that the eight-year-old Lu Xiaotian could already begin cultivation. So, should I teach her to cultivate? At just eight years old, if she starts cultivating now, compared to others, it's absolutely a huge advantage. But because she's only eight, her mind is far from mature, and moreover, her heart is filled with hatred. Starting to cultivate at this time could very likely lead Lu Xiaotian down an evil path. However, if I don't teach her to cultivate, it would be wasting Lu Xiaotian's exceptional talent. Lu Xiaotian is Ludie's child, and I feel it's my duty to guide Lu Xiaotian. Teaching her to cultivate is guidance; keeping her from the evil path is also guidance. I can't waste her talent out of fear that Lu Xiaotian would take the evil path—it wouldn't be fair to Lu Xiaotian, nor to Ludie.

So, after much hesitation, Yang Liya finally spoke to Lu Xiaotian. "Da Tian, do you want to cultivate?"

Lu Xiaotian was somewhat surprised, as if she didn't understand the implication of Yang Liya's words. "Aren't I cultivating every day already? These past few days I've learned a lot of combat knowledge. Don't worry, Auntie Yang, once I have made some achievements in cultivation, I'll take my revenge by myself."

The determined look on Lu Xiaotian made Yang Liya somewhat dazed. Could she say Lu Xiaotian was wrong? No, because the act of revenge has existed since ancient times. Without experiencing another's suffering, do not persuade them towards kindness; even after experiencing it, one may not possess that kindness. No one has the right to persuade an avenger. Therefore, this time, Yang Liya's resolve to teach Lu Xiaotian strengthened even more.

"Da Tian, the cultivation I'm talking about isn't just shooting or gymnastics and combat techniques."

"Then what is it?"

"Your father's secret technique, the Six Paths Qi He—Dust Devil." Yang Liya also had a set of Dust Devil, but it was the first generation!

Upon hearing that Dust Devil was Ludie's secret technique, Lu Xiaotian's eyes lit up. "Father! I'm going to learn your Dust Devil, bless me!"

A few days later, Lu Xiaotian stood atop the Fourth High Wall, looking at the red pillar that had formed during her decisive battle with Ludie. The pillar that reached into the sky was proof of Ludie's strength; it had become a symbol of the new world in the Fourth Ring! The Hunters of the Fourth Ring had voluntarily erected a monument next to the red pillar for Ludie. [King of Hunters—Ludie, slayer of the Eighth Order calamity, Nightmare Demon, at this very place.]

With a light drizzle falling, Lu Xiaotian placed a bunch of Little White Flowers on Ludie's monument. "All the things you wanted to do, I've done them for you. Rest well in heaven." Lu Xiaotian bowed to the red pillar. Although she could hardly say she had a deep impression of or affection for Ludie, she truly felt a lingering attachment in the end. Lu Xiaotian won't stop her journey, but she will always carry the memory of Ludie in her heart.

"Is there really a heaven?" Qin Wanyu walked out from the rain, arriving behind Lu Xiaotian, and asked a question that even she found somewhat perplexing.

Lu Xiaotian cracked a smile. "There really is a heaven because the place we're in now is hell! As long as we can escape from hell, wouldn't that be heaven?"

Qin Wanyu nodded her head in a manner suggesting she didn't quite understand, and started talking about her work. "The Union's affairs have been almost completely arranged, and the Hunters are now having a lot of conflicts with the Inner Ring. We're also continuously causing new conflicts between the Inner and Outer Rings. Currently, all the situations are developing in a positive direction."

The rain in the sky suddenly poured down heavier, but Lu Xiaotian and Qin Wanyu did not make any move to avoid the rain, nor did they use energy to shield themselves. After pondering for a while, Lu Xiaotian slowly said, "Qin Wanyu, you are different from them, having grown up in the human world since childhood. You see many things more clearly than we do. What do you think we are lacking if we want to establish a new organization, or even a regime?"

Qin Wanyu thought carefully. "What we lack is a real rupture!"

"Alright, then let's think about how to cause a real rupture between the Fourth Ring and the Inner Ring."

Two months later, beneath the city wall. Quan Pu stood not far from the breach of the Fourth High Wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His shattered eyeball had been replaced with a red cybernetic electronic eye. His arms and legs had also been swapped out for mechanical prosthetics, which made him look strong and even had a cyber-tech vibe. From the exquisite craftsmanship, it was clear that these were Bai Yuetong's masterpieces. To ensure Quan Pu was in good condition, Lu Luo had gone to great lengths. After all, Quan Pu was a true talent, a kind that shouldn't be wasted.

Standing under the awning, Quan Pu was barking orders at the workers. "A bit to the right, a bit to the right! Use concrete for the repair, I didn't tell you to just pour in cement!"

"Boss Quan Pu, we used alchemical concrete for wall repairs before; this ordinary concrete simply isn't strong enough."

"What the hell alchemical concrete do we have now? We're almost at a rupture with the Inner Ring."

Once the floodgates opened, these workers began to lecture and pontificate. Keyboard warriors are a phenomenon of every era because discussing politics and state affairs truly is a very thrilling matter.

"Boss Quan Pu, are we really going to break with the Alliance?"

"Who knows about such things!" Quan Pu showed his yellowing teeth again; having regained his self-confidence, Quan Pu resumed his old habits. And not just smoking; he dabbled in eating, drinking, prostitution, and gambling—almost all of it. He had transformed from a sharp dealer into a supervisor full of flaws and utterly unscrupulous.

Many had reported Quan Pu's various wrongdoings to Lu Luo, such as organizing gambling, group X-rated activities, and the like. But Lu Luo seemed completely indifferent to these things, still granting Quan Pu significant work authority. Because he knew Quan Pu was defiling himself. Quan Pu had made no powerful connections and, in fact, had offended many. The outcome was simple: he could only rely on Lu Luo. If Lu Luo were ever to give up on him, then his situation would be terrible.

It was a risky strategy but a very clever one. Quan Pu quickly went from a peripheral member of the Circular to the core of power. His work was directly connected to Lu Luo, and besides the usual supervision and urging of labor, there was another important point: to spread the idea of independence among the people. Like right now, which was the perfect opportunity for him to do his job.

"Even Boss Quan Pu doesn't know? I don't buy it; the guys all say you're the best informed. With the situation so tense inside the wall, you must have some exclusive news." The speaker was a confidant of Quan Pu, also used by him specifically to stir up discussions. After he said this, many appeared indifferent but slowed their work to listen. They pricked up their ears, eager to hear some exclusive news from Quan Pu.

"It's not so much a secret. Just that the Inner Ring Security Bureau tried to take over the Fourth Ring Security Bureau twice before, and both times they were denied by the Hunters. Moreover, Hunter Team 1 Captain Wang Jie killed the former head of the Security Bureau the night before last."

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