The deathly silence in the square was amplified by the crackling sound of the burning bonfire.

Zhao Delong's body lay there, his blood pooling on the ground in a dark red stain, emitting a faint fishy smell.

Everyone's face was filled with horror, and their bodies were trembling, partly from fear and partly from the chill of the night wind.

Lin Feng's gaze slowly swept over everyone, his cold eyes like a scalpel, deeply imprinting the ironclad rules he had just established into the depths of everyone's soul.

Fear is the most effective adhesive for establishing a new order.

He looked at Li Xiangbin, who was almost paralyzed with fear, and his tone returned to calm: "Xiangbin, take two men and drag him out to bury him. Bury him far away, so he doesn't dirty our place."

"Yes...yes! Big Brother!" Li Xiangbin snapped out of his shock.

He dared not look at Zhao Delong's corpse for long. He immediately called on two women who were equally pale-faced. The three of them worked together to drag Zhao Delong's body into the darkness outside the shelter, as if it were a bag of garbage.

Lin Feng sheathed his dagger and casually wiped the blood off his hands with a piece of animal hide.

He turned around, facing a group of women who were trembling with fear, and a smile suddenly appeared on his lips, breaking the suffocating atmosphere.

"Alright, he's just a piece of trash, not worth ruining our good mood for."

He raised a glass of wine from the table beside him, his voice booming once more, “A traitor has been eliminated—this is a tremendous blessing! Our homeland is now purer and safer. Come, let the wedding continue, let the celebration continue! Cheers to our pure and bright future!”

This abrupt change stunned everyone.

But Qin Lan was quick to react. Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she raised her glass high and responded in a clear voice, "Mr. Lin is right! Cheers to our bright future!"

With one person taking the lead, the others also broke free from their fear.

They eagerly raised their glasses, cheering louder and even more hysterically than before:

"cheers!"

"Celebrating our new home!"

It was as if only in this way could the chill that had grown in my heart from the bloody scene be dispelled.

The square was once again filled with noise and revelry, even more so than before.

People drank heavily, ate large chunks of meat, and used dancing and singing to numb their senses.

They understood that Zhao Delong's death was both an end and a beginning.

It ended any possibility of luck or wavering in the past, and ushered in a new era under Lin Feng's absolute rule.

On this land, those who obey live, and those who defy die.

Lin Feng watched all this with satisfaction, then downed the wine in his glass in one gulp. He knew that from this night onward, his authority would be unshakeable.

...

The first rays of dawn silently pierced the thin mist that shrouded the alien land.

Light streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

The floor was made of a single piece of rare cedar wood, smooth as a mirror, clearly reflecting the light and shadows of the sky and clouds outside the window, as well as Lin Feng's slowly opening eyes, deep as the night sky.

He didn't get up immediately, but instead looked to his side.

That's the "Phantom".

Its shape is very similar to the most elegant black cat on Earth, but every line is smoother and full of a wild explosive power.

At this moment, it was curled up in a ball, with only a pair of amber vertical pupils, which, in the dim light, resembled two faint will-o'-the-wisps, shimmering with a mysterious and lazy luster.

It seemed that the aura of Lin Feng's awakening had startled it. The phantom stretched its incredibly flexible body and let out a satisfied, sticky whimper from deep in its throat.

It gently nuzzled Lin Feng's firm chest with its fluffy head, conveying its unreserved affection.

Lin Feng smiled slightly.

He reached out, his long, slender fingers disappearing beneath the Phantom's fur, which was as smooth as the finest silk.

In this fortress built of cold steel and absolute will, in this strictly hierarchical territory he himself established, only this little creature who cannot speak human language can be so unreservedly close to him, sharing the silence and warmth of his bedchamber.

He slowly rose, his bare feet stepping onto the cool cedar wood floor without making a sound.

He prepared breakfast for the Phantom: a small portion of the freshest and most tender alien tenderloin, carefully cut into even pieces.

Watching the little guy bury his head in his food and eat with relish, making happy "gurgling" sounds in his throat, Lin Feng turned around and went into the spacious dressing room to change into a clean and neat combat uniform.

After leaving his bedroom, which resembled a royal palace, Lin Feng departed the villa.

Walking on the road he had personally planned, paved with hard stone slabs, Lin Feng began his daily, unwavering routine patrol.

The morning air carried the unique chill and fragrance of an alien planet, mixed with the scents of earth, metal, and unknown plants.

The women had already begun their work, their figures creating a vibrant scene in the morning light.

He walked through the vegetable garden, which was laid out as neatly as a chessboard. Rows of lush green vegetables absorbed the morning dew and were growing vigorously. Their leaves shimmered with a crystal-clear light. It was the masterpiece of Qin Lan and Su Wanqing.

Upon seeing Lin Feng, they immediately stopped their farm work, bowed respectfully from a distance, and their eyes showed undisguised awe and trust.

As he passed the chicken coop, dozens of colorful alien chickens were clucking and scrambling for feed mixed with minced meat and grain. Their eggs and their own meat were the most stable and reliable source of protein for the sanctuary.

In the sheepfold not far away, several huge black sheep were leisurely tearing at the hay.

Next, Lin Feng went to the greenhouse at the back, where a warm feeling mixed with the fragrance of plants wafted towards him.

This place is warm like spring, cultivating some rare crops with extremely demanding environmental requirements, and even a few alien flowers that can emit a calming fragrance.

In the kennel next door, "Wangcai" is now a majestic wolf king.

It and its pack of tamed horned wolves were lying on the ground pretending to sleep, but the moment they sensed Lin Feng's presence, they all stood up.

Wangcai ran quickly to Lin Feng's feet, wagging its thick tail and letting out a low, affectionate whimper, rubbing its hard, iron-like head against Lin Feng's leg.

Lin Feng reached out and gently stroked Wangcai's head, but his gaze went past it to the towering steel wall in the distance, which resembled a black mountain range.

This territory he built with his own hands, from laying the first foundation to tightening the last screw; from planting and distributing food to ensuring and defending security; from establishing order to enforcing rules... every corner is permeated with his unwavering will.

An unprecedented, almost chilling sense of satisfaction and pleasure, like a warm tide, instantly swept over and engulfed his entire body.

He finally understood why, in those documentaries, the lions on the African savanna patrol their territory day after day, tirelessly.

This is by no means a simple declaration of sovereignty, but a primal pleasure rooted in the deepest part of life, a feeling of creation and control.

Watching one's will be transformed into reality, watching one's power protect the survival and growth of a group, watching all people and things operate like precise gears, completely according to one's own will.

That feeling of ruling the world and dominating everything is more intoxicating than anything else in the world.

Here, there are no old-world laws, no cumbersome moral constraints, only the most primitive and purest law of the jungle.

And he, Lin Feng, is the sole ruler of this steel jungle.

His inspection tour continued, his steps steady and powerful.

He walked toward a two-story building, which was the "wedding room" he had given to Li Xiangbin and Xiaomei.

In stark contrast to the orderly layout of the rest of the fortress, the wooden door of this small building remained tightly closed, and thick curtains completely concealed the interior, giving the impression that its owner was still sound asleep.

Lin Feng paused slightly here, a playful, slightly mocking sneer appearing on his usually aloof face.

"Newlyweds, having tasted the sweetness of love... young people, after all, do not know how to restrain themselves."

He did not disturb the newlyweds' sweet dream.

Li Xiangbin's indulgence was a reward that he tacitly approved, or even carefully designed.

A man who is completely satisfied with the comforts of a gentle home and a sense of happiness will lose any ambition he shouldn't have, and will become more loyal and work harder to protect this "gift".

After inspecting the entire territory and confirming that everything was running smoothly as he had hoped, Lin Feng turned around and returned to his main building.

In the spacious restaurant, large enough to accommodate a banquet for hundreds of people, a sumptuous breakfast was already prepared for him on the long dining table made from a single giant tree, steaming hot.

This was not simply food to fill his stomach, but a meticulously prepared morning feast exclusively for him.

There are exotic meat steaks that are pan-fried to the perfect temperature, locking in all the juices, with an enticing caramel color on the surface;

The rice cooked by Su Wanqing with Golden Fox Rice was crystal clear, exuding a unique fragrance, and its taste far surpassed any top-grade rice on Earth.

There is a bowl of rich soup made by Qian Xiaoxiao with a variety of rare vegetables and mushrooms, simmered over low heat for several hours. It is incredibly delicious and warms the whole body with just one sip.

There was even a glass of juice made from the freshest wild fruits picked by Tang Bao and Ruan Mengtian that morning, served in a crystal-clear glass, its color like flowing rubies.

The seven women each performed their duties, respectfully presenting the best they could do and the best they could offer on this dining table.

This is both their job and their way of expressing reverence and dependence.

Lin Feng sat down quietly in the main seat and picked up a heavy set of gold-made cutlery and chopsticks that belonged to him.

Begin to enjoy this perfect breakfast in an orderly manner.

The warm sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden outline on his body.

The phantom had silently jumped onto the chair next to him, curled up gracefully, and quietly licked its paws with its tongue.

Outside the window lies the busy yet orderly kingdom he built with his own hands.

Indoors, he was entitled to absolute comfort and tranquility.

Lin Feng cut off a small piece of pork chop, put it in his mouth, closed his eyes, and savored it.

The freshness and energy of the meat exploded on his taste buds, and he once again felt that unparalleled joy and satisfaction, like a lion returning to its den to enjoy its prey after surveying its territory.

His gaze once again pierced through the wall, looking towards a vast world further away, filled with unknowns and dangers.

This fortress is just the beginning. His journey leads to the distant stars and the vast ocean.