As days went by, ckwood continued to develop methodically.


    Ethan quietly watched a family grow.


    Then he smiled again.


    "ckwood, Year 23, Gratitude Vige poption reaches 1548."


    "Amelia, with a Foundational Energy level four, has been cultivating herbs in the beast park for years, deeply studying ''Iron Will cultivating psychic powers manual'' about ''special methods of psychic medicine and cultivation'', achieving great results. "


    "By a stroke of luck, she got a book ''Thousand Herbs'' from an old doctor in Gratitude Vige and made her first medicine powder ''Coagtion Powder''."


    "Amelia has achieved the profession—ninth-grade pharmacist!"


    "Moved by her achievement, her Wood Psychic Constitution value reached 60, breaking through to Foundational Energy level five!"


    "A profession? A pharmacist has appeared!"


    Ethan pped his thigh. In modern times, you hardly see pharmacists around, reced by petri dishes due to technological advancement. But that''s just one reason; bing a pharmacist, even moreplex than bing a Dan master, was another.


    It was said that when psychic abilities first resurged, pharmacists had once reced doctors, powerful enough to revive the dead or kill invisibly!


    He clicked on Amelia''s profile in a rush.


    At that moment, Amelia, in front of a beast blood fruit tree, was joyfully touching a packet of medicine powder, darting around arge copper furnace, "I did it, Forebearer bless, I made it!"


    Only 16, in the prime of her youth, yet ckwood''s daughters somehow didn''t like interacting with outsiders. Olivia was like that, always reading at home, and so was Amelia.


    She wore a simple ck robe, her hair in a ponytail, her exposed skin dirty, not as beautiful as Olivia, but with a simple elegance.


    She spent almost all her time in ckwood''s medicinal garden, tending to the psychic nts.


    "Amelia (second generation)"


    "Profession: Ninth-grade pharmacist"


    "Level: Foundational Energy level five"


    "Psychic Constitution: Five-element mixed Psychic Constitution"


    "Techniques: Qi absorption technique, Thousand Herbs, Swift Steps"


    "Trait: nt affinity"


    Ethan was also delighted with Amelia''s growth.


    As Amelia grew, many in Gratitude Vige with injuries and illnesses began seeking her medical treatment, gradually boosting her reputation and advancing her pharmacist level.


    Meanwhile, Ethan was really starting to see how crucial Amelia was!


    "Your descendant Amelia has cured ''Steven'' from Gratitude Vige of a hidden ailment, and now he can finally get cozy with his wife like normal. ckwood earns some good karma, Spiritual Tribute +1."


    Besides special events, descendant worship, and births, Ethan found another way to rack up Spiritual Tribute!


    He nced at his Spiritual Tribute tally.


    Over time, it had ballooned to over 3000 points.


    Soon, he''d be able to control the war AI Bionic Robot!


    ...


    "Year 25 in ckwood, a ''ck iron'' ore vein was discovered in the Silver Iron Woods, just when it was about to be developed, a Gratitude Vige Psychic and three guards were killed!"


    Special event!


    "Dang it!"


    When the vein was discovered, Ethan was thrilled.


    ck iron, though amon type of iron, was super resistant to rust and perfect for making weapons and tools in the game world. Ethan had even hashed out ns with Nathan on how to use the ck iron, but in a blink, it was snatched away!


    In the ckwood shrine.


    "Forebearer, cool it, Nathan didn''t guard the ck iron ores well, letting folks from Forest Town, led by Gonzalez, snatch it and even got people from Gratitude Vige killed. It''s Nathan''s fault, please punish him, Forebearer!"


    "It''s not your fault."


    Ethan had the Purple Thunder Python ry the message.


    He squinted his eyes, "Forest Town folks again?"


    It seemed like ckwood folks had always run into people from Forest Town, and aside from Heath, other families generally kept the peace with ckwood.


    But when interests shed, friction like this was inevitable.


    And this time, for the ck iron ores, blood was shed!


    "As ckwood grows stronger, Forest Town will see us as a thorn in their side, a pain in their neck, and that''s just unavoidable."


    Ethan remained cool as a cucumber, tapping away at his keyboard.


    "Head to the ck iron ores, take out four of their guys too, leave the rest of Gonzalez''s folks alive, send them back with a message for their chief toe talk. We might just make a big deal."


    "Talk... business?" With his wife tranting, Nathan got the gist of Ethan''s n, puzzled.


    Then Ethan filled Nathan in on more details, and Nathan''s eyes lit up.


    Soon.


    He walked to the gates of ckwood, where the rtives of those killed at the ck iron ores had already gathered, weeping.


    Nathan looked at the vigers of Gratitude Vige.


    "For years, we at ckwood have sheltered Gratitude Vige, and I hope Gratitude Vige can always be happy and safe, because we''re all honest, well-meaning folks."


    "But things in this world often go against our wishes, and we can''t predict who might bring disaster or bad news our way."


    "But what I can assure you is, whoever it is, they''ll pay a price they can''t handle!"


    "Maybe today, maybe tomorrow."


    "I, Nathan, promise you, their nightmare..."


    "Has just begun!"