I built a safe house in the eerie night.

Looking at the imposing and menacing second-tier bone arrow tower before him, Jiang Ning felt somewhat relieved.

Jiang Ning then upgraded two more bone arrow towers located on the side, bringing them all to Tier 2.

Range, attack speed, accuracy, power, and even impact resistance are all improved in all aspects.

In this way, with one gun in the middle and one on each side, a relatively ideal triangular firing area is formed, and the firepower can cross-cover most of the open area in front of the village entrance.

"Let's use these three Tier 2 arrow towers for tonight. It should be fine, that's enough."

Jiang Ning nodded in satisfaction.

However, the thought of having consumed a full three thousand catties of Black Tai Sui to upgrade the three arrow towers, leaving only about fifteen hundred catties of reserves in the warehouse, made Jiang Ning feel a pang of heartache.

Looking at the other two arrow towers that were still at level one, he wished he could upgrade them all to level two in one go.

In that case, with five Tier 2 arrow towers guarding the area, the defense will definitely be several levels higher. Perhaps I can sleep a little more soundly tonight.

"But these are all just wishful thinking..."

Jiang Ning shook his head with a wry smile.

Every night, my nerves are on edge, and listening to the eerie howls makes it impossible for me to fall asleep.

Over the past few days, he has clearly felt somewhat dazed and his body is extremely exhausted.

"Cultivation, for strengthening the body, is something we must do..."

Jiang Ning sighed, shifting his gaze from the regret of insufficient resources to the horizon.

The setting sun was rapidly sinking behind the distant mountains, dyeing the clouds on the horizon a magnificent yet poignant crimson-purple-orange hue.

"No time for sentimentality, we need to strengthen our defenses."

Jiangning took action again.

First, I walked to the village entrance and carefully measured the distance.

The 15-meter-long barricade defense line built last night can be extended further outwards to leave space inside the village and push the defensive front line even further.

With a slight thought, the [Heavenly Craftsman] interface was accessed.

Jiang Ning controlled the fifteen bone barricades, moving them nearly five meters outward from the village.

In this way, the total length of the village's outer defense line was extended to more than 20 meters.

Next, Jiang Ning used materials to quickly build five new bone barricades, perfectly filling the gaps left by the extended defensive line.

During the day, to make it easier for villagers to enter and exit, a few barricades are deliberately moved to create passages. Although it is not very convenient, there are no city gates yet, so this primitive method is the only option for now.

The barricade is temporarily secured, but its length and strength have both increased significantly.

Next, there was a slight adjustment to the position of the arrow towers. Jiang Ning moved all five arrow towers forward a little.

However, it was not placed too close to the barricade, mainly to make room for the construction of the new building, "Observation Platform".

The location has been chosen; this is the architectural blueprint that Jiangning released this morning.

[Architectural Blueprint: Observatory for Ghosts (Level 1)]

[Required for crafting: 200 Black Tai Sui, 20 Yin Wood, 20 Black Stone]

Invest resources to build it.

Familiar with the rising black smoke, which quickly condenses and takes shape.

A moment later, a five-meter-high wooden observation platform, covering a large area, rose from the ground!

The platform is constructed entirely of dense ebony, with a tight grain that serves both as a lookout point and a protective feature. Sturdy ladders are also provided on the sides.

Jiang Ning climbed up using both his hands and feet.

The top of the platform is quite spacious, enough to accommodate five or six adults standing.

Standing on top, the view suddenly opens up.

It is evident that the newly opened open land outside the village, the dark and withered forest in the distance, and even the rolling, desolate mountains and fields further in the distance are all within view.

Even more ingenious is the simple, cylindrical observation device fixed in the center of the platform, which resembles a monocular telescope.

Jiang Ning moved closer to the observation port, adjusted his direction, and peered into the distance at the mountains.

The field of vision narrows, making distant, blurry objects clear and magnifying details, resulting in a very good effect.

"Great stuff. Using this at night will help us detect the direction of the strange attacks sooner, including their approximate number."

Jiang Ning was certain of his guess.

Although this building is at most a scenic observation deck during the day, it will become the eye for observing ghosts at night.

Jiang Ning, out of curiosity, tried to turn the observation device further away and slowly moved it. Eventually, it inevitably pointed towards the direction of the giant tree that stretched to the sky in the center of the mountain range.

The massive, suffocating silhouette of the tree appeared in sight for only a fleeting moment—

"hiss!"

A piercing pain shot straight to Jiang Ning's soul, emanating from his eyes.

He groaned, jolted back as if electrocuted, pulled away from the observation port, staggered back a step, and his heart pounded wildly.

After a while, he wiped his forehead with lingering fear.

"This thing... is truly terrifying, too horrifying to look at directly."

Jiang Ning dared not try again. He took a few deep breaths to calm his churning blood and palpitations, and then stepped down from the viewing platform.

"At this stage, one observation platform is enough."

Jiang Ning looked around at the somewhat crowded village entrance area.

The defensive buildings and living areas are crammed together, making the space feel cramped.

"Let's consider adding more when the village expands. Let's just wait and see how we get through each eerie night first."

Next, Jiang Ning will continue to optimize and adjust the details of the defense system.

First, all five Devouring Flowers that weren't very useful last night were transplanted to the outside of the Bone Barrier defense line.

In this way, the scent they emit can attract the strange creatures outside the defense line, and then devour them.

Each plant may have a limited appetite, but it can take in as much as it can. The important thing is that this Devouring Flower acts as bait.

After that, Jiang Ning began to measure the location again, his eyes scanning back and forth inside and outside the defensive line, his brows slightly furrowed.

"I feel like something's missing... Are there enough arrow towers? Can their positions be changed?"

Jiang Ning's obsessive-compulsive tendencies and lack of security have resurfaced.

The goal is to maximize defense while also ensuring the layout appears stable, symmetrical, and aesthetically pleasing.

After hesitating for a while, looking at the black monster in the warehouse, he gritted his teeth.

"Fine, let's add two more arrow towers and place them outside, creating a double layer of firepower!"

Just do it.

Using another 400 jin of Black Tai Sui Yin Wood, two more Tier 1 Bone Arrow Towers were built symmetrically on the left and right sides of the outer side of the barricade.

Jiang Ning then returned to the village and dismantled the wooden walls that had been built for the first two arrow towers, moving them outside the village.

The addition of wooden skirts to these two new arrow towers provides basic, simple protection.

Finally, Jiang Ning redistributed the five Devouring Flowers.

Two saplings are placed in front of the new arrow tower on the left, two saplings are placed in front of the new arrow tower on the right, and the last sapling is placed on the central axis between the two new arrow towers.

"Hmm, look... it's aligned, and the layers are showing."

Looking at his masterpiece, Jiang Ning finally felt much more satisfied with it; both the aesthetics and the actual coverage of the defense had been improved.

He climbed up the observation platform again, looking down at the defensive layout of the entire village entrance from above, like a general inspecting his own position.

On the outermost edge, two crematoriums burned eerily.

Slightly behind, there are two new Tier 1 arrow towers, symmetrically positioned on the left and right, protected by wooden walls. In front of each tower are two Devouring Flowers, waiting to bloom.

Beyond that was a barricade stretching over twenty meters, its barricades bristling with bone spurs, resembling an insurmountable jungle of steel and thorns.

Behind the defensive line stood three Tier 2 main battle arrow towers, poised to strike, shrouded in purple aura, exuding the strongest pressure. On either side, two Tier 1 arrow towers, battle-hardened, stood guard.

The observation platform where I was located was situated in the central rear of the defense line, serving as the brain and eyes of the entire defense system.

"Phew... This is the limit I can achieve right now."

Jiang Ning felt a little tired, but also a sense of accomplishment.

"Tonight should be much more relaxed than the previous two nights."

The remaining black jujube weighed only a little over 500 jin, and Jiang Ning was thinking about what else he could do.

This defensive line should theoretically be able to withstand regular low-level monster tides without much problem.

Unless a Tier 1 anomaly suddenly appears, if it does, you can only tough it out and leave the rest to fate.

No, I'll give them to them!

Thinking about it, Jiang Ning smiled helplessly. Being held back by resources was a fatal flaw.

He thought about it again and felt a little more relaxed.

"At least, there is some protection from the altar. This is a territory with a master, and there are few people. It is not very lively, unlike those big cities outside, which attract a large number of strange creatures every night."

Jiang Ning thought of Danhua City.

A population of millions, a riot of fireworks—for the supernatural, that's an irresistible temptation.

Therefore, the scale of the bizarre impacts that the city faces every night is far greater than that of his small village.

However, the defenses of the great cities are correspondingly much more formidable.

Towering, magnificent city walls, countless defensive arrow towers and crossbows, a well-trained garrison, and a protective array covering the entire city, jointly constructed by array masters from various powerful families...

Unless a "mysterious moon" appears in the sky, or other destructive calamities that trigger bizarre and widespread chaos, the city remains basically as stable as a mountain.

"That's the real safe zone..."

Jiang Ning sighed softly, her eyes revealing envy, not longing, but simply admiration.

"One day, my territory will be safer, stronger, and more formidable than those great cities!"

"Of course!"

Jiang Ning composed himself and looked out of the village.

Beside the withered forest, Yu Niu and his young men were still working hard to cut down trees and clear land, showing no sign of stopping even as night fell.

Their dark backs were glistening with sweat, reflecting the glow of the sunset, and their movements were full of strength and vitality.

Jiang Ning saw this and felt gratified.

He stood on the high observation platform, cupped his hands to his mouth, and shouted with all his might towards the withered forest:

"That's a wrap!"

The loud voice echoed through the mountains.

In the woods, everyone who was busy looked up and turned to look in the direction of the sound.

Even from a great distance, Jiang Ning could still clearly see the reverence in their eyes and their almost pious gaze.

The last rays of the setting sun bathed Jiang Ning, who was standing on high ground, in a halo of light.

As the villagers below looked up, the figure in the light appeared somewhat blurry, yet incredibly tall and sacred.

In their hearts, Jiangning is a god.

He was the savior who pulled them back from the abyss of despair, and the leader who led them to find a way out.

Jiang Ning's gaze then turned to the open space in the village behind him.

A group of children are chasing and playing in the sunset, or helping adults with some light chores.

Unlike a few days ago when they looked like they had been worn down by the pressures of life, their childlike innocence had faded. Now, their little faces are filled with smiles, and their eyes are gradually regaining their light.

Seeing Jiang Ning looking over, the children all stopped, waved happily at him, and shouted at the top of their lungs:

"Chief, you're standing so high!"

"The leader is so handsome!"

Jiang Ning smiled gently and slowly climbed down from the viewing platform.

As soon as he stood firm, a group of children, led by Xiong Qiuqiu, quickly lined up in a neat queue in front of him.

Each of them stood tall and straight, their little faces tense, trying their best to look serious and earnest.

Xiong Qiuqiu, the self-proclaimed leader of the justice squad, stepped forward and gave a perfunctory salute, reporting crisply:

"Reporting to the leader, the entire Justice Squad is on standby. What are your instructions?"

Seeing her trying so hard to act like an adult while still unable to hide her childishness, Jiang Ning's smile became even gentler.

He waved his hand, his tone relaxed:

"No instructions, you guys go have fun."

"Yes, Chief!"

Xiong Qiuqiu responded loudly, then turned around, a bright smile spreading across her face, and announced to her teammates:

"The leader said, 'Let's play!'"

"Yay—let's play!"

The children instantly revealed their true colors and cheered with joy.

The seriousness of just moments before vanished, and like a flock of happy birds, they scattered in a flurry, their clear laughter filling the village as dusk settled.

Watching their carefree running figures and hearing their long-lost innocent laughter, Jiang Ning stood there quietly, the evening breeze brushing against his cheek.

At this moment, the fatigue seemed to dissipate considerably.

What I need to protect are these smiles and this newly ignited flame of hope.