Game World: I Can Share Talents

"This style..."

Luyetan took a closer look and said,

"It looks a bit like something from the Celestial Vault Kingdom. Does Duke Qinghui have connections with them?"

"Connections... I’m not sure if you could call it that. In any case, please help me give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, then so be it."

Westheid wanted to establish a line to the Celestial Vault Kingdom. A country lord like him was practically drooling over their technology, which was far beyond the current era.

Besides that, Westheid also wanted to investigate information regarding the Master of Extinction. Since it was known that the Master of Extinction was connected to the Venerable Master of the Azure Heaven, a proper investigation was necessary for handling future relations with the Great Demon.

"Of course. It’s no trouble at all. However, whether the Celestial Vault People will agree is not something I can control."

Luyetan nodded in agreement.

With the official business settled, the atmosphere became much more relaxed. Crucially, Westheid no longer gave Luyetan any opportunities to tease him, which made Reiya feel much more comfortable.

After all, the Silver-haired Princess was Duke Qinghui’s staunchest supporter; she couldn’t bear to see him suffer any grievance.

And the act of "bowing to Yuanxi Palace due to poverty" was clearly a great shame and humiliation.

Westheid himself, however, didn’t mind. ’A beautiful, wealthy woman using her money and looks to insult me... A real man knows when to bend and when to stand tall, that’s all.’

After teatime, Westheid invited Luyetan for a stroll around the Ying River.

"As an investor and benefactor of Qinghui Territory, shouldn’t Yuanxi Palace also take a look at our reconstruction efforts? This is directly related to our ability to repay you later."

"If Duke Qinghui can truly help my family break free from the Enchanter’s shackles, then the debt will naturally be cleared."

Although Luyetan said that, she still accepted Westheid’s invitation, putting on a wide-brimmed hat and opening a parasol as they went out together. Reiya did not join them; she really didn’t want to speak with the woman from Yuanxi Palace anymore.

The holiday Westheid had granted was coming to an end. In fact, after the first three days, the Purity People had already returned to work, enthusiastically embracing their new lives.

As they walked down the main street along the riverbank, passersby greeted Westheid and his companion warmly.

"My Lord! Good day."

"Your Majesty! You look as heroic as ever today."

"Lord Westheid is looking as sharp as usual."

An adorable, cherubic child even ran up to them, glanced at Luyetan, and said with the unfiltered honesty of a child,

"Lord, Lord, is this pretty big sister I haven’t seen before your girlfriend too? How many girlfriends do you have?"

"Hah, you silly kid, what are you talking about? What do you mean ’how many girlfriends’? They’re all my wings!"

Luyetan glanced sideways at Westheid interacting with his people and couldn’t help but remark,

"Duke Qinghui certainly cherishes his people."

Westheid turned and raised an eyebrow. "Hm? Shouldn’t this be a case of my people adoring me?"

Luyetan tilted her head slightly, resting her cheek on her hand. "Being adored isn’t difficult at all. A little bit of grace, a slight show of force, and it can be done. But to earn such warm and sincere affection requires some effort... I thought you didn’t do unnecessary things. Your pretense is quite convincing."

The concept of popular support simply didn’t exist in the minds of the Imperial Nobility. As long as they governed their territory according to the Prosperity Law, the common folk wouldn’t live too poorly. And taking a huge step back, even if the people were destitute, they would never have the guts to rebel against their Lord.

The people’s adoration was a trifle to the nobility. In this world, there was no saying that "he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world."

Westheid smiled faintly. "I indeed don’t do unnecessary things. As for why I do this... you guess."

He then clasped his hands behind his back, offering no explanation, which made Luyetan unconsciously grind her teeth.

As time passed, the sky gradually darkened. Due to the influence of the Circle of Clear Skies Technique, the night sky was exceptionally clear. The magnificent starlight spilled down, mingling with the countless lights from the homes along the Ying Riverbank.

Although most of Qinghui Territory had been reduced to a barren wasteland where nothing grew, the area along the Ying River alone had been developed into what could be considered a bustling city over the past year. It wasn’t just a cold district of workshops; all the necessary supporting entertainment facilities were also in place.

Westheid pointed at the town’s nightscape with soaring ambition.

"My plan is to have over a hundred towns of this scale throughout all of Qinghui Territory within three to five years. Each town will have a population of at least one million. They will link together to become one of the most dazzling Domains in the Mortal World!"

"That’s no simple task. Even if you really get technological support from the Celestial Vault People and can build cities from scratch and transform the environment, what about the population? Where will the people come from? It would take several generations for the Purity People to restore their former numbers."

Luyetan bluntly threw cold water on his plans, saying,

"Or are you planning to not let the Purity People remain a minority? That would certainly shock our friendly neighbors."

Every Holy Land has its own clans, influenced and passed down over hundreds or even thousands of years. These are the clans of the Branch of Prosperity, and only they form the trusted foundation of the Branch of Prosperity.

To put it bluntly, a Branch of Prosperity is essentially an independent kingdom, and they are rather sensitive about racial issues. This is because the Purity People are not a nation united by a common narrative, but one whose members truly, to some extent, have the Blood of Qinghui flowing through their veins.

"Of course not."

Hearing this, Westheid shook his head and said,

"But who’s to say the Purity People... have to be so inconvenient?"

Westheid already had a good idea for how to increase the population of the Purity People quickly, efficiently, and economically.

It was common knowledge that the Purity People were a special race possessing the Blood of Qinghui. They were an ethnicity that formed naturally from living in the Purity Forest for long periods, their distinction from ordinary humans being the slight influence of the Holy Spirit Bloodline.

’In that case, why not just bestow the bloodline directly upon outsiders? Operationally, it’s completely feasible!’

It was just that this idea was shockingly unconventional. Even though Westheid had already broken numerous ancestral laws—and even beaten up his ancestors—he couldn’t put it into practice so rashly.

Anything involving bloodline modification could easily be labeled a forbidden experiment. Using Bright Radiance Manifested in the World to forge a new path was already pushing the limits. Any bolder moves would likely alarm the Lands of Order.

’So, there’s no rush for now. I just need to gather refugees and wait for the right moment.’

Luyetan said, "If Duke Qinghui keeps leaving me in suspense like this, I won’t be able to stay long. I plan to leave tomorrow."

Westheid didn’t try to make her stay, simply saying,

"There’s one last ball tonight. It wouldn’t hurt to rest for one more night before you leave."

"Ah, that sounds nice."

And so, the two of them returned to the manor.

Just as they entered the courtyard, Westheid saw a pretty, flaxen-haired young girl standing on a chair, her cheeks stuffed full of sweets like an oversized hamster.

After a moment’s hesitation, Westheid cautiously approached and said,

"Shamuel?"

"!!!"

Hearing his voice, she jumped up, turned around with a stiff, robotic motion, and began fiddling with the hem of her skirt.

"D-Duke Qinghui, I-I have something to do, I’ll be going now!"

The little girl in the gothic dress couldn’t even speak clearly. The moment her gaze fell on Westheid, she immediately looked away, ducking her head and fleeing in a panic.

Luyetan watched Shamuel’s retreating back with great interest and said,

"So that’s the Shadow Flame Duke’s granddaughter? What an adorable little girl. Why is she so afraid of you?"

"Sigh. It’s my fault, really."

Westheid said reproachfully, and began to explain the reason to the lady from Yuanxi Palace.