I Became The Vampire Progenitor
Chapter 162: The Scent of Death

After leaving the Dawn Church, Li De remained deep in thought.

The Dawn Order had truly gotten off to a good start with its development so far.

With Nilo, a Level 6 Holy Priest, Emi, a Level 15 Shadow High Priest, and two girls who had just become Level 2 Priests, the Dawn Church now possessed its initial strength.

However, the two Level 2 Priests couldn’t handle more than two spells each without becoming overwhelmed, unlike Nilo, who could accept 15 spells while remaining mentally unscathed.

Still, this wasn’t a major issue. For now, all they needed to do was continue spreading the faith. Once everyone in Dawn City believed in the Dawn Order, there would undoubtedly be an explosive surge in faith energy.

By that point, he wouldn’t need to meticulously plan how to spend the faith energy.

Moreover, the Dawn Order still had untapped potential.

Powerful deities boasted millions of believers, and ancient gods like the Goddess of Life had followers numbering in the hundreds of millions.

To rival those divine beings, the Dawn Order still required significant time for growth.

Fortunately, Dawn City’s geographical location ensured it would face little interference or invasion in the future.

He had enough time.

Upon returning to City Hall, Li De summoned Harrison to inquire about the livestock farm.

One must eat one bite at a time and handle tasks one by one.

Spreading the faith was a long-term process and couldn’t be rushed.

Dawn City had many pressing matters to address. The first priority was agriculture. Spring wheat had been planted in March, and the first harvest would occur between July and August.

The importance of food was undeniable, and all work this year revolved around it, so this area couldn’t falter.

The second priority was the construction of the Mage Tower. The Mage Tower represented future power. In this world of magic, magic always ranked first in terms of combat strength.

The sooner the Mage Tower was built, the faster lower-level vampires and talented humans could systematically learn magic.

Third was the Dawn Order.

Fourth was the livestock farm.

These last two needed no further explanation; both were indispensable.

Each of these major projects was crucial, but only the livestock farm could be expedited. The rest required patience.

"Clan Leader, the water pipes for the livestock farm have been fully connected and are now officially in use.

Currently, we’ve captured 2,000 boars from the Dawn Plains and 4,000 wild cattle, which have already been distributed to the residents.

Additionally, we’ve caught several hundred wild horses and sheep.

By October, when the workers have mastered breeding techniques, the farm will operate at full capacity."

Li De nodded. The livestock farm was proceeding as planned, unlikely to encounter any major issues.

"How’s the expansion of the Whispering Bat population coming along?"

"Viscount Dylon has already begun. However, visible results won’t be seen until around October.

Although the growth cycle of Whispering Bats isn’t long, fully activating their latent bloodline requires some time."

Li De smiled faintly, satisfied with the progress.

The livestock farm was complete, and the expansion of the Whispering Bats hadn’t been delayed—there was progress on both fronts.

There were enough beasts on the Dawn Plains for the Whispering Bats to expand to over a thousand in number.

He had already ordered Dylon to increase the current population of less than 500 Whispering Bats to 1,000 before the Months of Deep Winter arrived.

He estimated that they would need to capture at least 20,000 people during this winter.

Without a sufficient number of Whispering Bats, completing such a daunting task would be impossible.

"Excellent. Fully support Dylon’s efforts. I want to see the desired number of Whispering Bats flying above Dawn City by the time we reach the Months of Deep Winter."

"As you wish."

"Also, don’t neglect other projects, especially agriculture. We need to plant as much grain as possible.

After the Months of Deep Winter, a large influx of new people will arrive. I want you to prepare for this now. This year’s tasks will only grow heavier."

Li De’s tone was serious. A sense of urgency weighed on him—not just due to the impending arrival of players shown on his attribute panel but also an indescribable unease.

It seemed the future wouldn’t remain as peaceful as it was now. He’d felt a shift in the atmosphere ever since the Beastmen Empire’s sudden early invasion last year.

Thus, he couldn’t afford to slow down. He could only strive to strengthen Dawn City.

No matter what changes lay ahead, self-reliance was the only way to respond.

Moreover, the arrival of the soon-to-be chaotic players would bring unpredictable changes. Although he no longer worried about the players’ arrival as much as he did initially, he never underestimated their ability to stir up trouble.

Who could predict how strong a storm a butterfly’s wings might unleash?

Still, things were going well. Dawn City was on the right track, and all they needed to do was follow his established plans.

In no time, he would fear no challenge.

"Harrison, I need to return to Green City. I’m leaving everything here in your hands."

"Yes, Lord Progenitor."

Harrison gave a slight bow, showing no objections.

Li De’s advantage in establishing the Crimson Mage Tower was precisely what guaranteed Dawn City’s rapid development. Both locations were equally important.

He had been away for quite some time. Though Spark and Vina were managing things, prolonged absence without a central figure was unacceptable.

After handling some minor matters, Li De returned to Green City. By the time he reached the Crimson Mage Tower, it was already mid-morning the next day.

Standing before the Crimson Mage Tower, he surveyed the massive estate resembling a small city, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Thanks to the production of magic scrolls, the Crimson Mage Tower had become a veritable financial powerhouse.

To produce even more magic scrolls, they had recruited an astonishing 500 mage apprentices. To protect the secrets of scroll production, the surrounding areas had been cordoned off.

Now, the Crimson Mage Tower had truly become an independent mini-kingdom, with him as its ruler.

The towering walls surrounding the estate stood five blades high and were wide enough for people to stand atop.

The walls, coated in red alchemical materials, radiated magical fluctuations. These massive walls were equipped with alchemical traps and magic arrays.

Even an army would struggle to breach these formidable defenses in a short period.

The small square in front of the Crimson Mage Tower had become restricted internal territory.

Standing on the street outside, Li De felt a deep sense of accomplishment as he gazed at the scene before him.

Just over half a year ago, this place was merely an ordinary Mage Tower with 22 mage apprentices and a monthly income of several dozen Gold Pucks.

It had been utterly unremarkable within Green City.

But now, the Crimson Mage Tower had become a force no one dared to overlook.

This wasn’t solely due to Grand Mage Spark’s presence but also because of the strength the Crimson Mage Tower itself demonstrated.

Through magic scrolls, under Vina’s management, the Crimson Mage Tower had established a vast network of commercial alliances.

Many issues were resolved without the tower’s direct involvement, making it far more powerful than the once-insignificant tower that had to negotiate in person just to purchase grain.

As Li De stood at the gate of the Mage Tower’s walled compound, preparing to step inside—

A sudden change occurred.

An indescribable aura of ferocity and chilling malice caused the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end in an instant.

Cold, bloody, cruel, destructive.

Even as the Vampire Progenitor, at this moment, he smelled the scent of death.

Every fiber of his being screamed warnings at him!

Danger!!