Lin Xiaoyu led him through several metal doors that required identity verification.

They finally stopped before a heavy door without any markings.

Lin Xiaoyu came to a halt in front of the door.

She turned around to look at Lin Feng. "Lord Lin, this is it. Director Chen is waiting for you inside."

Lin Feng nodded.

"I won't be going in," Lin Xiaoyu smiled. "I'll wait for you outside."

Lin Feng gave her a glance, then reached out and pushed the door open.

The meeting room wasn't large, about fifty or sixty square meters, with a simple layout.

There was a long table, a few chairs, and a massive holographic projection screen on the wall, which currently displayed a map of Great Xia.

The South Pole Region section was slightly enlarged, marked with several glowing dots.

Zhenyue City, Crescent Moon Territory, and Beacon Fire Town. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Rongcheng skyline was clearly visible under the sunlight.

Tall buildings stood in clusters and traffic flowed like a web; it was a completely different world from the dark red wilderness of the Nightmare World.

Chen Weiguo was already waiting at one side of the long table. He wore that familiar black uniform, and his hair was a bit whiter than their last meeting, but his back was still ramrod straight.

Seeing Lin Feng enter, he stood up and pointed to the chair opposite him. "Sit."

Lin Feng sat down. The chair was very comfortable, much better than the hardwood chair in his Council Hall.

"First, congratulations," Chen Weiguo spoke, his tone a bit more solemn than their last meeting.

"An eighteen-year-old county-level Lord—you are the first in Great Xia's history."

Lin Feng nodded slightly. "Good luck."

Chen Weiguo glanced at him but didn't respond to that statement.

Luck? From awakening to now, it had been less than a hundred days. Going from a newcomer to a county-level Lord was definitely not something luck could explain.

But he didn't press further; everyone had their secrets.

"Tell me, what did you come to see me for?"

Lin Feng didn't beat around the bush either. "Two things. First, the Blood Moon. What intelligence does the state have on it?"

Chen Weiguo's expression didn't change, but his fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop twice.

He fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Not much intelligence. The Blood Moon first appeared eighty years ago, and back then, the rules of the Nightmare World were different from now."

Lin Feng's brows quirked slightly. "Different how?"

"Back then, after establishing a territory, there were no fixed monthly Nightmare Tides," Chen Weiguo's voice was low.

"Among the conditions for upgrading a territory, there was no requirement to 'withstand a Nightmare Tide' either. It was only after the Blood Moon appeared that everything changed."

Lin Feng's pupils contracted slightly.

"So, regarding the reappearance of the Blood Moon, our intelligence department's speculation is—" Chen Weiguo paused.

"The conditions for territory upgrades might also change."

He stood up and walked to the holographic screen on the wall, pointing at the densely packed glowing dots on the map of Great Xia.

"The General Bureau is already preparing to send messages to all Lords, telling those who meet the upgrade conditions to promote their territories as quickly as possible.

Don't wait for the conditions to change. If you get stuck at some stage then, it'll be too late for regrets."

Lin Feng was lost in thought. He was currently just one Tier 3 Nightmare Tide away from the county-level.

As long as he survived the wave in ten days, he could officially upgrade.

He hoped no accidents would happen at this critical juncture.

Seeing his silence, Chen Weiguo picked up his teacup and took a sip, his tone becoming more casual. "Alright, that's enough about the Blood Moon for now. Tell me the next matter."

Lin Feng gathered his thoughts and said seriously, "I no ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) longer want the four mid-level talents the state was going to support me with.

Can I exchange them for three thousand Copper Ingots and three thousand Tin Ingots? I have an urgent use for them."

Chen Weiguo was stunned for a moment.

He stared at Lin Feng for a few seconds, his brow furrowing slightly. "Are you sure? The value of four mid-level talents far exceeds three thousand copper and three thousand Tin Ingots.

You should know that mid-level talents are scarce resources in all of Great Xia; they can't be bought with money."

"I'm sure." Lin Feng's tone was calm but resolute.

Chen Weiguo fell silent for a moment, seemingly trying to judge what Lin Feng was thinking.

Copper and Tin Ingots, while also strategic materials, were several grades lower in value compared to mid-level talents.

A mid-level craftsman could forge blue-tier equipment, and a mid-level alchemist could concoct rare potions.

These were things money couldn't buy. It was impossible for Lin Feng not to understand this logic.

Yet he still chose copper and tin.

Chen Weiguo didn't press further, merely nodding. "Alright. Since you've confirmed it, I'll help coordinate it for you.

Three thousand Copper Ingots and three thousand Tin Ingots will be delivered to Beacon Fire Town within the Nightmare World in seven days."

Lin Feng's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Director Chen."

"Don't thank me," Chen Weiguo waved his hand and sat back down. "This was your own choice.

However, let me remind you: once you give up these mid-level talent slots, it won't be so easy to apply for them again next time."

"I know," Lin Feng nodded.

Seeing that his mind was made up, Chen Weiguo stopped trying to persuade him. The two chatted for a bit more, with Chen Weiguo asking about the situation in Qingmu County.

Lin Feng gave a brief overview and mentioned the cooperation with the Crescent Moon Territory.

Chen Weiguo cautioned him, "Even if someone is helping you guard it, you cannot afford to be careless yourself." Lin Feng agreed.

After chatting for about half an hour, Lin Feng stood up to take his leave.

Chen Weiguo saw him to the door and reached out his hand. "If anything comes up, contact me anytime."

Lin Feng took his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. "I will."

The door opened. Lin Xiaoyu was standing in the corridor leaning against the wall, holding her tablet and looking at something.

Seeing Lin Feng come out, she immediately put away the tablet, a smile surfacing on her face.

"Done talking?"

"Yeah."

The two walked out side-by-side. They encountered a few more people in the corridor who stepped aside and politely greeted Lin Feng upon seeing him.

Lin Feng responded to each of them without stopping his pace.

At the main entrance, Lin Xiaoyu stopped. "Lord Lin, I won't see you all the way back." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"No need," Lin Feng smiled. "Go on with your work."

Lin Xiaoyu nodded and stood on the steps, watching Lin Feng walk to the roadside to hail a hovercar.

The car door opened, and Lin Feng looked back at her, waving his hand.

"Go back inside."

Lin Xiaoyu waved with a smile until the hovercar disappeared into the traffic before turning to walk back into the building.

The hovercar stopped in front of Lin Feng's home. He pushed the door open, stepped out, and checked the time.

It was just past eleven. He pulled out his keys and opened the door, and the aroma of food greeted him.

His mother poked her head out from the kitchen, still holding a plate in her hand.

"You're back? Perfect, the food is ready."

"Mom, I won't be eating," Lin Feng changed his shoes and headed upstairs. "I have urgent business; I need to return to the Nightmare World immediately."

His mother was stunned, and the plate in her hand almost slipped. "Not eating? What's the rush?"

"Important business." Lin Feng took the stairs two at a time and pushed open his bedroom door. "Don't wait for me, go ahead and eat."

His mother's muttering came from behind him. "This child, every time he comes back it's like he's going to war..."

Lin Feng closed the door, lay down on the bed, and took a deep breath.

Three thousand Copper Ingots, three thousand Tin Ingots, delivered within seven days.

The Nightmare Tide in ten days—if he survives it, he'll be county-level.

The Mithril Mine has already started being mined; in a month, there will be three hundred units of pure Mithril.

Everything was moving forward.

He closed his eyes.

"Connect to Nightmare."