Chapter 381: A New Life

Morin’s departure from Nagrand to Gale Island might have resulted in a significant loss of development for the Xuanyuan Church in Nagrand. However, in a way, his absence—given that he was too familiar with the birth of Xuanyuan to ever truly become a fanatic—ended up liberating those priests who were unaware of the truth.

With Alice managing the temple’s daily affairs as the Saintess, a kind of fervent, almost hysterical worship of Xuanyuan’s sole emissary in the world, Wu Qingsong, began to spread first among the clergy. The most fanatical priests quickly took up key positions, while those who were relatively more rational quietly left Nagrand, assigned instead to newly established temples where they could focus on preaching and refining their faith.

Ordinarily, a god manifesting in the mortal world would struggle to receive true worship, as the more tangible something was, the easier it was to expose its flaws. While Wu Qingsong certainly exhibited many phenomena beyond common understanding, he was, in the end, still human—not a perfect being. Often, the closer one got to him, the more they would see his ordinary, human traits.

Yet Alice, along with these zealous priests, had found a delicate balance. They wove together Wu Qingsong’s human qualities with his seemingly miraculous abilities, seamlessly merging them into a doctrine. Through relentless, almost indoctrinating rhetoric, they convinced the beastfolk—especially the mousefolk—that Wu Qingsong was the emissary Xuanyuan had sent to save them. Serving him not only granted them a better life in this world but also guaranteed them priority entry into paradise, where eternal happiness awaited.

Under this hidden fervor, the mousefolk’s enthusiasm and productivity were unleashed like never before.

As the first snow of spring began to melt, vast numbers of mousefolk emerged from their winter burrows.

After once again giving thanks to Xuanyuan and Wu—thanks to Alice’s subtle but deliberate efforts, many mousefolk had already begun treating Wu Qingsong as their second object of worship—they eagerly set to work, striving to improve their lives.

Wu Qingsong had approved a tax structure of 40% public, 60% private for commoners; 30% public, 70% private for believers; and for the landed gentry, 20% public, 80% private, with tenant farmers’ rents capped at a maximum of 40%.

In Wu Qingsong’s eyes, this was already a high tax rate—after all, in the northern plains, crops could only be harvested once a year, with yields far lower than what he had known in his previous world. But to the mousefolk, it was an unprecedentedly benevolent policy.

Food shortages might still exist, but the mousefolk’s adaptability was exceptional. They always found ways to gather edible plants from the fields. To them, the most significant change was that Nagrand had formally established the obligations and responsibilities between rulers and citizens. For the first time, their property was legally protected.

Before this, their lives and possessions had no security whatsoever.

Land had never belonged to them. There were no taxes, but at any moment, a stronger being could take everything from them on a whim.

They lived in constant fear, unable to plan for the future, always focused on surviving one day at a time.

But now, as long as they paid their taxes, Nagrand guaranteed their safety.

After surviving two consecutive winters with ample food reserves, even the most insecure mousefolk finally let go of their long-held anxieties. They gathered around the fervent priests, devoutly offering thanks to the god and his emissary who had brought about these changes, striving to prove their worth.

A wave of mousefolk missionaries, driven by a profound sense of purpose, began following trade caravans to spread their faith among their suffering brethren. This movement was almost entirely spontaneous.

More mousefolk, bringing their families along, flocked to Nagrand in the spring. They were soon settled along the western lakeshore.

A second, third, and countless more towns sprouted like mushrooms after the rain.

Though their scale was far smaller than Nagrand, each was a miniature replica of it, gradually extending its way of life along the lakeshore.

Inspired by the mousefolk’s example, several weaker beastfolk tribes also chose to settle down. Seizing the brief spring season, they traveled to Nagrand seeking aid—well diggers, priests, tools, seeds, and guidance on how to transition to a settled life. They hungrily sought all available assistance, readily embracing Xuanyuan’s faith in return.

“In many places, people have already erected statues of Xuanyuan on their own, and some have even begun laying foundations for temples before we’ve even sent priests there,” Alice reported, carefully concealing her excitement beneath a calm demeanor.

The developments they had once planned and anticipated were now unfolding before them. Nearly every town was established alongside a temple, and growth followed swiftly.

Well diggers, windmill builders, and carpenters were in overwhelming demand. Many mousefolk had taken up these trades, earning praise from the beastfolk. Before this, most beastfolk had viewed mousefolk as completely useless creatures that did nothing but dig burrows and destroy the land.

With the rapid emergence of towns, the very way of life in the Icy Sea region was being transformed.

Agriculture meant more efficient land use, higher yields, and the ability to support larger populations. It also increased demand for goods and production materials.

Commerce began to flourish, and Nagrand’s manufacturing industry thrived. Aside from a few specialized sectors, they no longer needed to rely on smuggling profits for survival.

“Congratulations, your strategy has been proven correct,” Wu Qingsong said to Alice.

Had it not been for her insistence and advocacy, they might still be struggling to convince skeptical beastfolk of Xuanyuan’s faith, slowly expanding their influence one step at a time. But now, Xuanyuan’s followers spanned hundreds of miles around the Icy Sea, numbering in the tens of thousands.

They no longer needed to actively recruit believers.

There was no need for coercion, no need for persuasion, and no need to expend extra effort. Stark contrasts between their way of life and others had led the beastfolk to make their own choices.

“It’s time to expand westward and deepen our influence,” Harold said.

The Icy Sea plains were just a small eastern region of the vast northern wilderness.

Beyond them lay the Stampede Plateau and the even more distant Mojina Plateau—territories outside the Elven Empire’s control, home to ten times as many beastfolk who could be brought under their banner.

Only by consolidating these resources and unlocking their full potential could they truly gain the power to stand against the Empire.

“Is the Knight Order ready?” Wu Qingsong asked Nina.

“Of course,” Nina immediately nodded.

The Beastkin Sisterhood had grown to nearly three thousand members, and the Divine Knight Order now had over a hundred full-fledged knights. In Nina’s view, they fully met Wu Qingsong’s expectations.

The only thing they lacked was real combat experience.

“Then let’s pay a friendly visit to the Stampede Plateau,” Wu Qingsong declared.