18. The Functions of the Guild Stronghold and the Automaton Palu

Outside the Windpod City, along the main trade route, Jiang Heyi paced around several times. He even ventured into a temporary marketplace spontaneously assembled by players in the nearby forest, yet he still couldn’t find the Embarrassing Witch.

Was she just here to make a quick profit and then vanish, or did she simply not set up her stall every day?

On his way back to the city, Jiang Heyi encountered the fisherman, Chestnut Warrior.

Compared to the Embarrassing Witch, Chestnut Warrior was much more reliable. Every day at sunrise in the game, he appeared by the main road laden with spoils.

His stall still showcased that large, silver-glimmering fish.

“Want to buy some fish?” Chestnut Warrior said bluntly. “The big one’s not for sale, but the others you can take for a small price.”

Recalling his generosity the last time he bought from him, Jiang Heyi couldn’t help but remind him, “Fish can be used as materials, fed to the homunculi in your home base to speed up guild construction—there are many uses.”

Chestnut Warrior chuckled, “I’m not too concerned about that right now. After logging in, I’m just focused on trying out various life skills. As long as I can cover repair costs, I’m good.”

Remembering how he had persuaded the garlic sprout homunculus at his home base a few times with promises of “next time for sure,” Jiang Heyi smiled.

“I’ll take them all.”

When the guild members met again inside the city, they found Jiang Heyi’s backpack stuffed with over a hundred fresh fish.

“Why’d you buy so many fish?” the Warden Brother curiously pulled a fish from Jiang Heyi’s pack.

“To feed the homunculi at the home base. I have a feeling her functions are quite extensive—the earlier we unlock, the sooner we can enjoy the benefits.”

Zhong Zemo, who had just finished organizing his own bag filled with ingredients, looked up upon hearing this.

“So, the guild system—is it also a case of the earlier you unlock, the earlier you benefit?”

Everyone detected the eager anticipation in his voice.

“In that case… the earlier we buy, the earlier we enjoy?” Warden Brother tentatively suggested.

Original Fries: “I have no objections.”

“I’m actually quite curious to see what functions it has,” Orange Tea said. Though she played less, her curiosity was boundless when it came to anything new.

Since everyone agreed, they decided to speed things up!

The rewards from clearing the Clearwater Shrine were substantial; a few purple-grade materials were enough to cover the costs.

“[Virtual-Real Boundary] guild accelerated construction complete.”

“Starry Sky Gem teleport anchor point recorded.”

After teleporting, before they could take in their surroundings, a familiar creature appeared before them—a shapeless, translucent bubble floating midair, part of the home system.

“Slimes again? How much does this game’s designer love this element?” Zhong Zemo remarked.

“Loading begins…”

A cold, mechanical voice sounded. The slime’s body trembled violently, and soon, a vaguely outlined humanoid figure with faint facial features emerged.

Jiang Heyi blinked. Wasn’t that the garlic sprout from his home base?

“Home homunculus, injecting homunculus data.”

Original Fries muttered, “Looks like the guild homunculus data is borrowed from the guild leader’s home homunculus.”

“Guild homunculus [Garlic Sprout], welcome all guild leaders to visit the guild base.”

“The guild map has been updated for everyone. For any questions about the guild, feel free to ask me.”

The guild base resembled a tavern, with two floors. They were currently in the meeting hall on the first floor.

Since the guild was newly established, the furnishings were quite crude: a redwood round table, a few battle-worn wooden chairs formed the entire meeting hall, and the lighting was minimalist—a simple candelabrum. They hadn’t even installed lighting crystals.

Regarding how to improve the guild’s infrastructure, Garlic Sprout’s suggestion was straightforward—collect materials, craft items, and decorate themselves.

---

Not an unexpected gameplay introduction.

Orange Tea had already circled back. She didn’t mind the guild’s evident poverty but was curious if they could rearrange the interior layout.

The craftsman’s shop and the potion workshop were adjacent without even a dividing wall—what a genius arrangement.

“Of course, but since guild space is extremely limited, to better renovate and decorate, the owners might need to invest some resources.”

Another unsurprising setting. Jiang Heyi was about to ask more functional questions when Warden Brother suddenly interrupted.

“Is there a way to expand or rebuild the guild without investing anything?”

As if such a good thing existed!

“Of course there is.”

Huh?

Garlic Sprout’s words drew everyone’s attention.

“Allow me to first introduce a guild setting: [Guild Reputation].”

“Guild Reputation is only attainable by guilds that open their world bubble to the public and occupy a main world base. With reputation points, guild members can enjoy special materials sold by wandering caravans, guild blessings, homunculus support outside the base, assistance in battle, and many other benefits.”

“Wait a moment,” Original Fries interrupted at the right time. “Opening the world bubble means revealing the guild coordinates to everyone, I get that. But occupying a main world base... you mean our world bubble will overlap with the main world?”

“Exactly,” Garlic Sprout smiled slightly. “As far as I know, you’re currently conquering a special area called the [Clearwater Underground Shrine]. Once cleared, you can project the guild base into this area, occupy it, and continuously receive various guild resources.”

A clear PvP element.

Then the question was: what exactly could these fiercely contested guild reputation points be exchanged for?

“They’re useless for balanced guild wars, but for exploration—PvE—they’re extremely beneficial. As for what exactly is available... that’s a secret for those who climb to the peak to unlock.”

In other games, such words wouldn’t stir even a spark of interest in PvP, but in Starry Testament, they had an advantage other players could hardly match.

Virtual-Real Boundary’s guild might be the first to trigger the Clearwater Underground Shrine’s storyline and begin its conquest.

This was a distinct information advantage.

Moreover, all microtransaction items in Starry Testament couldn’t affect in-game combat power. In other words, with their information edge, they wouldn’t suddenly face a pay-to-win invader mid-conquest, wiping out all their efforts with a single strike.

“If all goes smoothly, we could make a profit first.”

Warden Brother’s eyes burned with excitement. He was the earliest to realize this and now scanned the group with hopeful eyes, yearning for support.

Zhong Zemo took a deep breath. “What happens later, we’ll see. But since the chance is here, wouldn’t it be a pity not to try?”

That made two votes.

Original Fries’s stance was crucial.

“If it really makes PvE easier and more enjoyable, trying it out can’t hurt.”

With that, the decision was made. Rapidly clearing the underground shrine became their top priority.

“Garlic Sprout, at this stage, what assistance can the guild provide us?”

“Tier 1 guild blessing, effects change randomly each game day.”

“This round’s blessing is: [Endless Trial]. When owners gain experience, there’s a small chance to increase the amount gained.”

A blessing better than nothing; besides, no one was particularly sensitive about levels.

“Any advice on the guild’s development priorities?” Jiang Heyi asked again.

“Homunculus cultivation is closely linked to the guild system. The more complete the humanoid form your homunculus achieves, the more surprises you’ll gain.”

Besides Jiang Heyi, no one had fed their homunculi before, so they all fell into thoughtful silence at this.

---

Zhong Zemo couldn’t hold back first. “Potato, set aside some money for buying potions, and give me some materials.”

Orange Tea immediately followed, “Me too, me too! I’m going to feed mine till full!”

Jiang Heyi opened the trading panel and noticed Warden Brother was doing nothing, puzzling him.

“Aren’t you feeding yours?”

Warden Brother reclined with hands behind his head, grinning, “I’ve already fed mine full and even ‘downloaded’ a nun’s outfit from the store for her to wear.”

“...”

No wonder none of the Clearwater white gear he received appeared on him—it all made sense now.

“Downloaded?” Orange Tea was baffled. “How do you download?”

“He’s too lazy to fiddle with it in-game, so he just paid real money to buy the skin template from the store,” Jiang Heyi sighed. “That’s what downloading means.”

Other games were the same. When Warden Brother was having fun, he’d download everything.

If not fun... he’d download anything with a nun element too.

“So, what exactly can a homunculus with a complete humanoid form do?” Warden Brother asked Garlic Sprout.

Garlic Sprout projected the guild’s world bubble in her right palm and, after receiving Warden Brother’s “permission to guide,” also displayed his home world bubble in her left palm.

Between the two hands, faint red threads appeared, connecting them.

“World bubbles, contract established.”

“Homunculus guidance, commencing.”

An oval portal shimmering with holy light suddenly appeared behind Warden Brother. His elf homunculus, dressed as a white-robed nun, fluttered butterfly wings and appeared gracefully.

This was essentially an XP showcase moment; Warden Brother felt no shame and proudly puffed out his chest.

Jiang Heyi’s guild interface showed the homunculus settling in, and several new options appeared.

Settle into the craftsman’s workshop: Repair damaged equipment for all players within a specified time.

Settle into the potion workshop: Produce consumable potions (quality and quantity vary with the homunculus’s growth and proficiency).

Settle into the messenger group: Regularly venture out to search (items obtained are random).

So each player’s home homunculus could also double as a role within the guild!

Now they had even more reason to feed them fully!

They couldn’t let their homunculi be idle when they logged off.

Since the nun homunculus was Warden Brother’s “wife,” Jiang Heyi decided to let him handle the settling arrangements.

Warden Brother didn’t hesitate at all.

“Assign her to the craftsman’s workshop?”

“Imagine a devout, holy nun being forced to do manual labor for a living. After we log off, she prays to her god with a troubled face as she repairs equipment... Ah, the contrast!”

You really have an active imagination...

Original Fries snorted coldly, “Pervert.”